The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-09-28

would intrude.
| 1t seemed ages before Gerard's shin
ing black roadster swept into sight
She darted between the brick gate
posts as 1t stopped.
David! Dave, you dear!" Her
| voice choked. Had her brother grown
gaunter since she had left him? She
sprang to the running board and laid
| her glowing cheek against his white
| one. He held her close for q moment
His eyes, so like hers, were warm and
tender, his voice was humorously I'M
| steady, as he admitted:
"Prue, wouldn't have believed that
| could have missed being coddled as
I did. You've spoiled me. May l get
| out? This Is veritable armchair of
| car, but I smell a wood fire and
| toast. I'm ravenous for that toast,
aren't you, Gerard?"
Prudence blinked valiantly. David,
| I'm as temperamental as ever. for
| got everything when saw you. Mr..
Gerard, remember that you promised
| to have tea with u.s."
|
grab my arm, Schuyler. One is apt to
be stiff after long train ride"
Prudence put her arm under her
brothers while Gerard steadied him
on the other side. They led him to the
, wing chair In front of the fireplace.
He sank into 1t and closed his eyes.
| Her breath caught in strangled sob.
| He looked up and smiled.
Prudence dropped to her knees be-
side him. David, 1t is wonderful to
have you here. You-you put the
| heart into the house. Well have the
happiest time, and you will gain in
weight and health every minute with
| the milk and eggs and chickens fresh
| from the garden. I'm some farmer al
| ready, am not Mr.. Gerard? Why,
when did he go?''
81 suspect that he slipped out when
you and I forgot there was anyone
| else in the room, Prue."
"Tll bring him back pronto."
She Strengthened the foot-cushion,
| dropped a kiss on the top of his head,
| picked up the silver kettle. No sign Of
| Gerard in the dining room. She opened
| the kitchen door. He was perched on
| the corner of the pine table, his hands
clasped about one knee as he talked
to Jane Mack. Wonder of wonders!
| Macky was smiling!
| "Tea is served in the club carl"
| Prudence announced In a stentorian
| tone, as she reached for the teakettle
on the range from which to fill the
! silver one in her hand. Gerard
seized 1t.
"Let me buttle. I'll feel like an out
| lander at this family reunion unless I
can help"
In the living room Prudence seated
herself on low stool beside her
brothers chair. She answered his
| questions to the accompaniment of the
purr Of steam from the kettle, the
| crackle of the fire, the tinkle of silver
on china. She concluded:
''The evening arrived / racked my
brain for name for these acres we
| coming seem like new deal. seized
a word which has been hiding, in the
dark recently, pulled it out into the
light, and named the place Prosperity
farm. Get the psychology? chris
| tened the car Success-so that 1t never
will fail to get me to my destination
but I can't decide what to call the
| poultry. They've just got to lay eggs
for me and must resort to autosug-
gestion."
"What's the matter with Nickels?"
"Grand! Picture me scattering
corn, calling. 'Nickelsl Nickels! A
| little action this morningl Eggs,
Nickels. eggsp"
After tea Gerard carried the tray
| to the kitchen. Prudence could hear
| the faint rumble Of his voice as he
talked to Jane Mack.
"The impossible has happened!
Macky's granite heart has been clipped
| at last, David" she confided.
"Gerard certainly has an engaging
manner. What do you know about
| him?"
Nothing, except that even In the
| late era of frozen assets the bulk of
his fortune remained fluid. Mrs. 81
is my authority. That woman is
regular Who's Who for this villare
| The fact that he is rich tells me all
/ want to know"
"All rich men are not alike, Prue.
You and ! have been unfortunate in
some we have known"
David. do you think that I win
ever forget the result of jules mar
rage to a playboy? She was the
sweetest big sister girl ever had, and
she died of broken heart. Forgive
me, Dave, forgive me-" she pleaded
as his head dropped back against the
chair and his eyes closed.
She caught his hands tight in hers.
"Why, why did bring that up Wen