Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-21


W But she sat for time in her rocking
chair, before she changed into the night
gown and kimono in which she slept on the
couch in Dayid's room She knew the story
and her kindly heart ached within her.
What good would it do after all, this home
coming? Dick could not stay. 1t was even
dangerous. Reynolds had cOnfded to her
that he suspected watch on the mouse by
the police, and that the mail was being open
ed. What good was it?
Across the hall she could hear Lucy NOV
ing briskly about in Dicks room, changing
the bedding, throwing UP the windows, open
ing and closing bureau drawers. After
time Lucy tapped at her door and she
opened it.
ST put cake of scented soap among your
handkerchiefs," she said, rather breathless-
ly. ''Will you let me have it for Doctor
Richards room?"
She got the soap and gave it to her.
HE is going to stay, them"
Certainly he is going to stay Lucy said,
surprised. This is his home. Where else
should he go?"
But David knew. He lay, listening with
avid interest to Dicks story, asking Ques-
ton now and then, nodding over Dicks halt
ing attempt to reconstruct the period of his
confusion, but all the time one part Of him,
which was his heart perhaps and not his
head, was saying: Look at him well. Hold
him close. Listen to his voice Because this
hour is yours, and perhaps only this )hour!"
''Then the Sayre woman doesn't know
about your coming?" he asked, when Dick
had finished.
mo"
"Still, she mustn't talk about having seen
you. I'll send Reynolds up in the morning"
He was avid to hear of what had occurred
in the long interval between them, and good,
bad and Indifferent, Dick told him. But he
limited himself to events, and did not touch
on his mental battles, and David saw and
noted it. The real story, he knew, lay there,
but it was not time for it. After a while he
raised himself in his bed.
Call Lucy, Dick"
When she had come, a strangely younger
Lucy, her withered cheeks flushed with exer-
else and excitement, he said:
Bring me the copy of the statement I
made to Harrison Miller, Lucy"
She brought it, patted Dicks shoulder,
and went away, David held out the paper
Read it slowly, boy,' he said cit is my
justification and God willing, it may help
you. The letter is from Henry. Read that
too
Lucy, having got Dicks room in readiness,
sat down in it to await his coming. Down
stairs, in the warming oven, was his supper.
His bed, with the best blankets, was turned
down and ready. His dressing gown and
slippers were in their old accustomed place.
She drew long breath.
Below. Doctor Reynolds came in quietly
ana SLOOQ listening. Inc uOuSS was very
still, and he decided that his news which
was no news, could wait He went into the
office and got out sheet Of note paper, with
his name at the top, and began his nightly
letter to Glare Rossiter.
my darling" it commenced.
Above, David lay in his bed, and Dick read
the papers in his hand. And as he read
them, David watched him. Not once, since
Dicks entrance, had he mentioned Elizabeth;
David lay still and pondered that. There
was something wrong about it. This was
Dick, their own Dick; no shadowy ghost of
the past, but Dick himself. True, an older
Dick, strangely haggard and with gray run
ming in the brown of his hair, but still Dick.
The Dick whose eyes had lighted at the sight
of a girl, who had shamelessly persisted in
holding her hand at the last dinner, who
had almost idoatrously loved her. And he
had not mentioned her name.
When he had finished the reading, Dick
sat for a moment with the papers in his
hand, thinking.
Il see.'' he said finally. "Of course, it's
possible. Good God, if 1 could only think it. r"
Its the answer" David said stubbornly.
"He was proving around and he fired
through the window. Donaldson made the