The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-03


1t with complete outfit for the emer-
gency she foresaw. including suit, hat,
and shoes, all inconspicuous and sery-
iceable
She deposited this iron ration in
the care Of the head porter in one OF
the smaller downtown hotels, man
who had already served as her ally
In one or two small matters. 1t was
to be kept till called for. no matter
when. tomorrow or next year. Now
II she quarreled with her father In
the middle Of the night or during an
evening party she couldn't be kept
prisoner by a lack Of clothes.
Her afternoons entertainment con-
sisted in looking at furnished rooms
which had been advertised for light
housekeeping. To the landladies she
saw she gave her name as Mrs. George
Burns and described herself as the
wife of one Of the mail aviators. She
got good deal of emotional stimulus
out Of this. for they were without e1-
deeply sympathetic. Mrs. Henderson
didn't see how she could endure the
suspense of knowing her husband
might be killed any day. Any day,
absolutely! And Fridays! She hoped
Mr.. Burns never had to fly on Friday |
She got thrill, too, from the do
mestic intimacies one place suggested.
1t consisted of sitting-room with a
double bed In an alcove. a bathroom,
and closet equipped as kitchenette.
She almost hired the place outright,
and she left with a strong intimation
that she would do SO. IL 1t weren't
taken in the meantime, within day
or two. Things couldn't 60 on as they
were at home much longer. anyhow.
Mightn't she as well make an end Of
that intolerable situation now as laterl
But she found on reaching home
about six o'clock that this decision
had already been taken ont OF her
he met her In the hall told her that
something unprecedented had hap
pened.
Father home yet?" she asked, with
an affected carelessness which didn't
sound just right. Her heart. for some
incomprehensibe reason. had come
up into her throat.
"He was brought home. MISS" An
son said. reproachfully. Around
eleven o'clock this morning, In an am
bulance. He'd been in an accident" {"
She was bewIIdered by this news.
In the first fash 1t seemed unfair,
sweeping her own concerns off tho
boards. as it did. so summarily. Hes
in bed, l suppose" she Interrupted
"Ill go to him. l can see him, can't
~" Some Involuntary significance Of
dissent on Anson's part was what
made her ask that last question.
He said, Certainly, Miss" but she
waited for him to explain his reluc-
tance. you may not find him quite
himself" he warned her. and added
that the doctors orders were strict
against any excitement.
Well, of course, Anson knew the
sort of terms she'd been on with her
father lately.
The pillows were packed behind
hin, so that lie half reclined, his head
was incased in bandages. his left fore
arm lay across his chest in splints;
there was u strong hospltal-like smell
In the room, of iodoform or something
Of the sort. All this she was prepared
for-and instantly thrust aside as I'M
important. What engrossed and fright
ened her was the way he was looking
at her as If her appearance bewildered
him, as If he found 1t unacCoLntable.
She said, In answer to its seeming
question. Don't you know me, Dad7
It's Trix!'
"Of course know you" he an.
swered, petulantly. and thickly-as II
his tongue were swollen. I'm not out
of my head. What made you think
wss? Arson been talking?"
at was just the way you looked at
me-" she said, shakily, and then went
TO him. "Oh, Dad, I'm so sorry!" she
cried.
came in this minute. haven't heard
yet what happened, or how. Are you
well enough to tell me?'
Instead Of answering her question
he asked one of his own. "Where you
been all day. Tri1Y" For moment
his look pinned her fast; then II
wavered away and left her.
Nowhere much.' she answered.
Shopping for while. and then just
wandering around. There didn't seem
to be any special point in coming
home"
"Alone" he asked.
She found herself crying as she an
swered yes. When she'd wiped her
tears and controlled her voice. she
elaborated. Absolutely alone, Dad.
All day. haven't spoken to person
knew since left you this morning.
There wasn't anybody I knew to talk
to. Dad. it's true! You do trust me
as much as that. don't you?"
He shook his head. but it wasn't,
she thought, so much in dissent as in
as II she'd thrown him