Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-11-07
He Had a Big
Deal
By HELEN ST. BERNARD


(Copyright.l
A SHAFT of warm sunshine fell
"A across the telegram in Leila Gill
lette's hand. She brushed back her
hair that chung damply to her fore
head and reached for her handker-
chief. It was not in her pocket Still
looking at the crumpled yellow sheet,
she crooked her arm and wiped the
perspIratlon from her face.
"Morton Gillette killed in automo-
bile accident here tonight" she was
mumbllng. morton Gillette :.
killed in auto. :"
The telephone rang. 1t was the
newspaper office. No, there was no
further information than that con-
tanned In the telegram. The accident
had been near Atlanta yes,
business trip.
There was the sound of motor In
the driveway. Then, low voices on
the porch. The door was opening and
Marion Graham came to her, arms out
stretched, followed by her portly, red
faced husband.
"You poor darling, what fearful
shock! We came as soon as we
heard"
81 knew you would Individuality.
"Hello, Clyde"
Clyde Graham, tweed-knickered,
plaid-socked, held her hand tightly in
his. "Darned tough, Leila. You know,
oR oourca TINT NO
81 know, Clyde. Thank you. Shall
we go into the patio"
Marion drew an orange and black
wicker chair forward and Leila sat
down. Marion sat on an orange and
black wicker stool beside her, and
Clyde, his hands deep in his pockets,
stood with his back to the fountain,
lettering nervously from toe to heel
on the flag flooring.
"Poor old Mort. Darned tough" and
he gazed through the arched patio
door toward the stretch of land sweep
ing to the blue waters of the bay; the
winding boulevards, pam-frlnged. the
skeletons of half-constructed houses OF
Spanish design. "He certainly was
there with the goods, Mort was. This
would have been the finest develop
ment in the state of Florida If the
boom hadn't burst and broke him."
Another car was entering the drive
way. Marion admitted Charlie Car
son and Ben and Connie Davis.
"My DEAR" whispered Connie dab
bling at her eyes with an orchid wisp
of wolfe. ben and ! feel so deeply
for you. 1t doesn't seem possible"
Ben Davis, also tweed knickered and
plaid-socked, took his place beside
Graham and together they teetered
nervously.
"Talked to him on Wednesday" said
Ben. Seemed in good spirits. Said
he could see his way out of the jam.
Big deal in Atlanta, l suppose. !"
Leila nodded. eyes. that is what
took him to Atlanta. A big deal.
don't know much about 1t. spent
the weekend with the Bartons at
Winter Haven. I found a letter when
Ireturned this morning . on my
dressing table" h.3ggt8
"Hel didn't mention going away
Wednesday. Sudden, wasn't it?"
mot exactly--sudden," said Leila
slowly. II think he y hadiabeen plan
ming on it--since January. He didn't
talk much about It. :" ~
"After selling property with him for
two years, as / did-back In 1926
and being so closely associated since,
golf and all that, Lordy, but It viii
seem strange not to have old Mort
around. He seemed like himself
lately {. more than he has since
the boom busted :" 1855
"He was planning on this big deal in
Atlanta, suppose :" said Mort
GiIlette's wife. But another. car was
turning into the driveway. II must
be excused" she Interrupted herself,
rising from her chair. You will ex-
plain for me- MarionT Q3
"Of course, dear. I'll stay fight
here all day. tsee A-A
To the windows overlooking the
blue waters Of the bay, and sihouetted
against its placid surface, great sign
told passers-by that this was "Gll-
lette's Palm Bay Acres.-The Home
Paradise Of Florida, Americas Play
ground Below her window, the scar
let OF d hibiscus tree cut the green
sweep Of lawn, and a begonia--the
fame-vIne = trailed its Gamboyant
beauty over the latticed pergola that
led to the sunken pool Something
rustled on her dressing table. Ike the
fronds Of a palm coming together in
breeze. Something huttered to the
floor, and lay there In pool OF sun
light. She bent and picked It up.
Again she brushed back the hair that
chung damply to her forehead, mum
bling to herself as her eyes once more
swept the closely written page;
leila: VI Usas1
II have gone to Constance Affair
She loves me, and Ilove her better
than anything on earth. You've known
since January how things stood. I've
made devil Of o mess OF your life
You know that, too. You're strapped
pennlless, and ! strapped You; Pain
Bay Acres and everything on II is
all yours. You bought and paid for
every inch Of II. ! cannot allow my
self TO think what you will do, until
can do something for you Con
stance Is rich. As soon MS decently
can, iii fix you up. Forget ever
existed. -
."' Mort"
Slowly she tore the paper across
once, twice 49,. three tines. She
arranged the shreds In pyHuIdlon N
green onyx nshtr0y and struck n
match TO them