Page:Minnie Flynn (1925).pdf/142

 Thursday was a day of tragic happenings. In the morning Madame Papillon sent her delivery boy for the deferred payment of the clothes bought at her store. She also notified Minnie that she was ready for the second fitting on the suit. Adding that unless she came for it within three or four days she would have to go to law about it.

Minnie sent back word that she was very ill and would start her payments beginning Saturday. The boy accepted this message without protest. But he had had his orders from Madame Papillon, and when fifteen minutes later Minnie hurried out of the house to go to the plumbing shop where her father worked, he was hiding in the shadows of the house next door.

"The skinflint!" shrieked Madame Papillon, when he reported how Minnie had lied about being ill. "I've had all I'm going to take from that movie crowd. Morris, hurry over to Sol Greenbaum's and tell him I've got a job for him this afternoon."

Michael Flynn refused to let Minnie take any more money from his store of savings. She would have to work it out as best she could. Not even when Minnie cried at her whole future was in danger did Michael Flynn relent. He didn't care about himself, he told her, but he wasn't going to let the mother of his children be buried in the Potter's Field.

Minnie ran home and threw herself into her mother's arms.

"Mama," she cried, "I tried to keep it from you but I can't. I don't want to worry you but you simply got to know what's goin' on. Everything's at stake. There's that new job comin' along, me playin' with Mary, think of it, and a dollar more'n I got at the other place, and pa won't listen to reason.'

Mrs. Flynn, still under the spell of the "movie" lure, now there was another opportunity in sight, told Minnie she