The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-26
CHAPTER v-Continued

Nothing can hurt him again, Milly.
You
$50, I've run Milly Gooch to earth
at last! Mademoiselle Millee! And
with you, Gerard She would bel"
With a smothered imprecation, Rod
ney wheeled to face Len Galloway who
leaned against the side Of the door.
With difficulty he kept his voice low.
Don't you see what has happened?
If you can't keep your dirty mouth
shut, get out"
The sound Galloway made was more
snarl than a laugh, though an ex-
preston of sardonic mirth doubtless
had been his intention.
'I'm going"
He turned to Prudence who, white
and still, knelt beside the couch on
which Jean was stirring restlessly.
"Any ten-year-old child would get
wise to what's been going on between
those two, Miss Schuyler"
Rodney Gerard shut his teeth hard
into his lip. Prue could deduce any
thing from Calloway's voice and i'm
plication. What would she think;
Milly Gooch caught his hand and
with a choking sob laid her cheek
against it.
what shall do, Roddy? Grand
pops gone and have only you now"
Half of her appeal to him was gen.
uine grief, half was staged to irritate
Len Galloway who was glaring at her
from the threshold, Gerard decided.
With a suggestive laugh Galloway
departed. The physician touched Ger
ards shoulder.
you'd better get that youngster
home-quick."
II will"
Rodney bent over the girl crouched
beside the crumpled body of the
clown. He freed the hand she still
clutched. I'll see you tonight, Milly.
Pull yourself together" He laid his
hand on the bowed head before he
turned away.
"Come, Jean. I'll carry you, DEAR"
The town behind them, Gerard sent
the roadster forward along the smooth
road between its gay borders of fall
shrubs. Once he looked at Prudence.
She had her face against Jeans hair;
the child's long lashes lay like fringes
on her pale cheeks. He said gruffly.
"What a mix-up! A town burns up.
A circus Is thrown off schedule. A
clown sent scouting. He took chance
on your garden-he'd try anything
once-and then-a man who hates me
lays his hand on my shoulder-and
this for Jean-and tragedy for Chicot.
Chicot's daughter, her husband, and
child lived in the red brick house
when Milly Gooch was little girl. He
visited them. That was what he meant
yesterday when he said that he had
lived in this region"
II suspected you had seen him be-
fore"
"And because of what Len Galloway
implied, you have me tried and SEN
fenced, I'll bet"
She did not answer, only pressed her
cheek closer against jeans hair. He
kept both hands tight on the wheel.
Why had he let her invade his life?
Why had he allowed her to make him
madly happy or so Internally miser-
able by look? Rapture and agony.
He knew what the words meant now.
"I'll drop you at your gate" he pro-
posed CURLY.
mo. will go on to High Lodges.
II
with her mother"
Jean opened her eyes and lifted her
head from Prudence's shoulder.
I'm not going home until Mother
has gone. There's nothing the matter
with me except that I feel kind of
dizzy; it helps steady things to keep
my eyes closed. You won't mind if
stay with Miss Prue for a while, will
you, Uncle Rod?"
"You should be with your mother,
dear"
"Pm not going to be with my mother,
30 that's that"
Getting back to normal fast, aren't
you, K. K.?"
"Course I am, Uncle Rod. Let
me stay with Miss Prue today, that's
peach. I'll wait on Mr.. David. l love
him."
She began to cry.
Let her stop with me-" Prudence
pleaded.
mo. She's going back to High
Lodges and hope land her there
before her mother gets away. l had
persuaded her to leave Jean with me;
it is only fair that She should know
what happened, what flop am as
a guardian"
Except for an occasional query as to
jeans comfort. Gerard said nothing
more during the long ride home.
They reached the red brick house.
Gerard looked down at Jean.
"Pull yourself together, K. X. If
you and are to be on our own, we've
got to go forward like soldiers, not
whimper when we have to dc things
we don't like. Get mel"
Toon c+ro ;uhfanad xpinod hor ovao