Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-26
CHAPTER XXI
The Eleventh Hour


~ GORGE did not appear at church that
| r morning and Gail breathed a sigh OF
| relief that she was not to encounter
| him. After the service she did not stop to
speak to anyone, but hurried out, and was
half way home when Violet Fowler caught
up with her.
Gail, you mustn't avoid people like this,
everything will be much harder if you do"
Gail did not answer. She was not in the
mood to listen to Violets condolences and it
was only when Violet mentioned George s
name that she turned her head.
81 suppose you've heard the latest about
George?"
"Please don't tell me any more gossip. 1
don't want to hear it."
This isn't gossip, it's news" Violet per-
sisted. Good heavens Gail, you have to go
on living in Dalesburg, you're not going to
retire into solitary confinement, are you?"
Gail did not answer, but the imperturbable
Violet went on with what she had to say.
George has sold his car The agency
bought it back, but of course he'll lose
money on this transaction. Poor George, he
had big ideas while they lasted | wonder
how he feels now
Gail made no reply, and having reached
the big frame house on Cherry street, the
two girls stopped for a moment on the side
walk.
Come in and have dinner with US" Gail
spoke on impulse. 1t wasn't 50 much that
she wanted Violet, anyone else would have
done equally well, if not better. But she
dreaded the Sunday meal eaten en- famille,
and after what had happened that morning
at breakfast, she knew that her father
would be gruH and surIy.
do you really want me?"
"Of course l do" and Gail linked her
arm in Niolet's and drew her up the path to
the house.
Violet served her purpose in making the
meal less unpleasant than it would have 9TH
orWlse BEEN She chatted gayIy about moth
ing at all, and if Henry Martin answered in
monOsyllables for the most part, at least he
answered. Not for the world would he
have offended guest lest the gossiping
element of Dalesburg deem him inhospitable
And afterWard Mrs. Martin sent the two
girls out Of the kitchen and did the dishes
herself.
Violet went home about 3 o'clock. and
Gail was just about to climb the stairs to
her room when she heard steps on the porch
and the next moment the doorbelI rang
Hurrying across the square hall, Gail pushed
open the screen door. Tommy NASH the
station agents assistant, stood outside, and
a grin spread over his face when he saw who
it was.
Hello, Gail" he drawIed JaziIy, "got a
telegram here for you. Lucky it came in
just around the time when the afternoon
train was due, or it would have been held
up till tomorrow"
He handed her the square yellow envelope.
nv" uP SIed9y DoOk Tor her 10 sign, and
then fingered as though loath to depart.
Gail could not help smiling. Of course
tommy knew what was in the telegram and
ne wanted her to open it before he left
There was something about the way he
stood there looking at her that made Calls
heart suddenly beat fast. She had never
received telegram before. Who could have
sent it to her? Suppose, just suppose, that
out of clear sky something was about to
happen to her, something nice, something
mat would mean escape from Daesburg.
She wanted to laugh at herself for such
an idea, but somehow she couldn't Tommy
was S1nning broadly, and somehow she
couldn't shake off the conviction that she
had only to tear open the envelope to find
her life entirely changed.