Зима тревоги нашей

           Item:TherewasMary,mydear,tothinkof,asleepwiththesmileofmysteryonherlips.Ihopedshewouldn’tawakenandlookforme.Butifshedid,wouldsheevertellme?Idoubtit.IthinkthatMary,forallthatsheseemstotelleverything,tellsverylittle.Therewasthefortunetoconsider.DidMarywantafortuneordidshewantitforme?Thefactthatitwasafakefortune,riggedbyMargieYoung-HuntforreasonsIdidn’tknow,madenodifferenceatall.Afakefortunewasjustasgoodasanyanditispossiblethatallfortunesarealittlefake.Anymanofreasonableintelligencecanmakemoneyifthat’swhathewants.Mostlyit’swomenorclothesoradmirationhereallywantsandtheydeflecthim.ThegreatartistsoffinancelikeMorganandRockefellerweren’tdeflected.Theywantedandgotmoney,justsimplemoney.Whattheydidwithitafterwardisanothermatter.I’vealwaysfelttheygotscaredoftheghosttheyraisedandtriedtobuyitoff.

           Item:Bymoney,Marymeantnewcurtainsandsureeducationforthekidsandholdingherheadalittlehigherand,faceit,beingproudratherthanalittleashamedofme.Shehadsaiditinangeranditwastrue.

           Item:DidIwantmoney?Well,no.Somethinginmehatedbeingagroceryclerk.IntheArmyImadecaptain,butIknowwhatgotmeintoO.T.C.Itwasfamilyandconnections.Iwasn’tpickedformyprettyeyes,butIdidmakeagoodofficer,agoodofficer.