would do all she could to persuade her father to lend her twenty-five dollars to pay Madame Papillon.
But that afternoon Sol Greenbaum came to call upon them. He was large, impressive, and he talked in a voice that rang through the hallway as if a gong had been sounded. No amount of shushing from the humiliated Flynns could make him lower his strident tones.
He was crying out, "I represent the law, ladies, law and order! I'm a man who loves justice, respects it and what's more, this is for you, Miss Flynn, as well as your mother, I'm here to see that justice is done. I don't want trouble but I want things regulated. And I mean to do it!"
Minnie reached out; tugging at his arm she dragged him into the apartment while Mrs. Flynn closed the door after him. Then Minnie faced him.
"Say, listen here, mister, we ain't bilks. I didn't lie about being sick. Look at me! Do I look well? Do I now?"
Sol Greenbaum shouted her down. "Madame Papillon is a good woman," he said, pounding his fist upon the table. "She sold you those dresses in good faith. She trusted you. She didn't ask for any security. She"
Minnie interrupted him. "I'm goin' to pay it back all right," she cried, "I ain't tryin' to cheat her."
"Very well, if you're going to pay her, give me proof of your good intentions. Give me twenty dollars on account. That's fair enough according to law, isn't it now?"
"I can't pay anything today," and Minnie's voice reached a high pitch of desolation, "but tomorrow, if you only come around tomorrow night"
