Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1933-07-14

Oh, Mrs. Packard, Mrs. Pack
ard!" 1t was Sam, calling to hel
from the Duesenberg, which he
steered quickly to the curb anc
stopped. Gee, I'm glad l founc
you'll He was out in a momen,
and holding the door for her, and
Joyce, too befuddled to think OF
the amazement of the office girls.
or even to remember to bid them
goodbye, climbed in.
Sam started the car before he
spoke further, and Joyce, suddenly
overcome, burst into tears and be-
gan sobbing uncontrollably.
There; there Sam was saying
tits all right, gee, I'm glad l found
you'll" and then in a minute:
when Joyce was calmer, Shall
make straight for Manzanita, or dc
you want to get your bags first?'
"Oh, Sam, l mustn't go to Man
zanita! You took me so much by
surprise that | just naturally got in
the car, but I'm not going to be
weak-minded as you think! If you
don't mind driving me around for
a little, until 1 get control .'
She sobbed afresh.
"What do you mean, weak
minded? Excuse me, Mrs. Packard,
but | think there's a tall lot of ex-
planning to be done somewhere!'
Sam suddenly Redeemed, and
looked at her with a mixture of
apprehension and determination.
maybe it's none of my business,
and all that, but-gee, l like you
and Mr.. Packard both too much
He stopped confusedly, and
then shot at her a perplexing ques-
ton, "Why didn't you want to
come home when Miss Abbott told
you Mr.. Packard's mother had
died?"
Joyce stared at him in such hon
est bewilderment that he was i'm
pressed. "Why, what On earth are
you saying, Sam? What do you
mean? Has Mrs. Packard died since
since | left? OF course | didn'r
know! | haven't seen a soul from
Manzanita! Tell me-please!"
Neil's mother-she knew how
fond he was of her-how he would
gr1eve! Of course she must go to
him at once.
Gee, that's funny" Sam an
.swered, Miss Abbott said-well,
you see, it was this way,''he paus-
ed to collect his thoughts, guess
I'd better go back and tell you all
that's happened since you le1t.
When Mr.. Neil came the next
morning and got your note he was
about sick. He was sick anyway,
looked terrible, never saw him
take on SO ~" Sam stepped on
the gas, a grim expression around
his usually pleasant mouth. He
sent for me right away, and l don't
mind telling you that i told him
all | knew. He frightened a bit
when he heard I'd taken you to
the WV. C.. A. in the city, and
we: both went there right away,
and missed you by just twenty
minutes, the clerk said. We hung
around all day, hoping you might
come back for something you'd.
left Then we came home. Mr..
Neil was near crazy, what with
worrying about you and worrying
about his mother, who' really.iwas
sicker than he'd. let you know. ="
"Oh, Sam!" Joyce''s misery shot
her words through with pain.
"Well, anyway, Mrs. Packard
died four days afterward. Every
one felt, terrible sorry for Mr.. Neil.
That Miss Abbott seemed to. come
around an awful lot. No one knew
anything about you, but l guess a
lot of gossip went the rounds.
Then just two days ago Roxie told
me how she'd heard Miss Abbott
telling Mr.. Packard that she had
seen you in San Francisco the day
before, that she'd told you about
Mr. Neil's mother dying, but that
you'd said you were sorry but you
couldn't come back to him."
"Oh, Sam! did he believe her?
You don't suppose he really be-
lieved herr"
II dunno. It's hard for men to.
know what you james r pulling.
But Roxie didn't. She said to me,
SAM" she said, I don't trust that
Miss Abbott. I'd have to hear
them words from Mrst Packard
herself before I'd believe them,
her having changed and got so nice
lately, and ALL" Sam paused in
confusion.
go on, SAM" said Joyce, Its
III. ~:nL Y......v -., II