“Lay off me, Dave! Who do you think I am, Jack Dempsey?” So saying, Marshmallow pretended to be very much frightened. “Only a friendly fight, old boy. But anyway, girls, you see you have two champions who will stand by you to the death, to the bitter end, if need be, ‘’til death us do part.’” And with that closing bit of assurance they struck an attitude of utter devotion, entwining their arms about each other. “You silly boys,” giggled Kitty, “perhaps we will need you, so keep in fighting trim until such a time might arise.” “At your service, fair ladies,” said Marshmallow solemnly, taking off his hat, and making a sweeping bow before them. “Jake can be your second,” suggested Doris. And so it was arranged in regard to bringing the much-desired loan. Dave and Marshmallow left the girls at the mansion gate, but as it was growing late declined an invitation to go inside. Doris and Kitty watched them drive away and then reluctantly walked up the path toward the house. “Ronald’s car isn’t here,” Doris observed in relief, “so if he came today, he must have left before we returned. At least I won’t be bothered about that loan until tomorrow, and I can give him a definite answer then.” Kitty agreed with her friend that there was no further need of troubling their minds about Ronald Trent and the loan, at least not tonight, so they slowly sauntered up the pathway toward the old mansion. CHAPTER XXI AN UNUSUAL PROCEDURE “I don’t like to speak of it, but Ronald will be here directly after breakfast and I am afraid he expects a definite answer about the loan. We dislike to rush you but the dear boy is so impatient and—” Azalea allowed her words to trail off and smiled apologetically at Doris, who sat opposite her at the breakfast table. Iris looked down at her plate to hide her embarrassment. Both ladies were very proud and found it difficult to bring up the subject of money. “If only we had something of our own that we could sell, we wouldn’t think of asking you for this favor,” Iris murmured. Doris had been awaiting an opportunity to bring up the subject of the paper which Cora and Henry Sully had mentioned. The housekeeper had returned to the kitchen and she decided to risk being overheard. “Of course you don’t want to mortgage your house,” she declared. “What a pity you haven’t any land or stock of any kind.” Azalea laughed. “As it happens, we have some oil company bonds but they aren’t worth anything. Iris and I were very gullible to buy them. Millions have been lost in the oil fields but we didn’t realize it until too late.” “Oil bonds, did you say?” Doris demanded eagerly. Iris nodded. “Yes, we lost several thousand dollars.” “And you still have the certificates?”