Evening star., 1934-04-14
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE ANSWER.

10 AQSpdllo lCOtCL db JOp
speed, then raced down the hill
~ to the Big Tom post office and
mailed 1t before she had time
- change her mind.
In led she tried to remember GER
tain portions of her answer. She had
written, I'D as soon consider cutting
the house into small bits and keep
ing those parts as would taking part
of the furnishings for myself. Hillen-
dale is an entity. To have a part of
it would only remind me of what
have lost"
Maybe seeing him with MathiIe
would cure her Of her obsession, for,
surely, love which could call forth
the acute emotional agony she was
suffering was an obsession.
She turned her face into the pill
lows and tried to muffle the sobs
which shook her entire body, dimly
conscious that her physical being from
the tips of her toes to the dreadful
pain in her head was like a sensitive
machine racked by power beyond
her control.
The springs of Delphy's bed creaked
and caused her to catch her breath
and lie quiet a moment. Footsteps
shuffled to the kitchen, there was the
click of metal on metal and low
voiced monologue on DANCED con-
traption thall cause ma soul to suffa
fire for a-cursin' it,"
Delphy was heating chocolate. The
sobs of her mistress turned to hys-
terical laughter, and when the old
woman shuffled in & few moments
later she found Judith laughing and
crying in the same breath.
There, there, honey lamb; juss you
shut yo' mouth an drink this choco-
late"
How can I shut my mouth m
drink" inquired Judith, with hys-
terical giggle.
IN rub yo' back down soons you
finish it. Wrought up you are,
wrought up, what with dam buildin'
ghosts an flyin' up where mans
never s'posed to be you're all a.
CULVER"
When Judith had finished the
Chocolate, Delphy, ignoring her
protests, rubbed some homemade con-
coction of menthol on the back Of
her neck and began massaging her
neck, her shoulders, her back.
When she awakened the next
morning she felt that something
dreadful which had been on the verge
of happening had happened. Delphy
served Ter breakfast, relating some
choice town gossip as she hovered
about the table, and Judith, remem-
bering her unselfish devotion, pre-
tended to enjoy the flaky biscuits and
to laugh at the gossip.
The change in her personal affairs
made Delphy a fresh problem. She
should send her back to Norman or
Mrs. Dale. She belonged to them, but
somehow, having her made it seem
she still retained some hold on her
husband. She would let Delphy make
the decision.
She did that evening. The growing
heat of the desert Spring had driven
them to the little porch in front, and
Delphy, silent for the moment, was
watching the approach of the work
train, crawling along like a black
snake.
She explained things briefly, then
waited for the old woman to answer.
Miss Judy, d'you mean you don't
want me no moo" she asked plain
lively.
mo, Delphy; not at all. But, as
Miss Bevins said in Lige's letter,
you've always been with the Dales."
Miss Judy, none a the rest of the
Dales needs me 'ceptin' you; and,
Miss Judy, just got to be needed"
Tears smarted in Judith's eyes at
the hunger in the old woman's voice,
You're right, Delphy, and do need
you you know that, don't you?"
The train was in. the mail courier
coming up the hill. Judith's heart
beat like a tomtom in spite of her
stern efforts to control a hope she
knew to be futile. Letters for her
she scanned the handwriting.
elias scrawl. She tore open the
envelope, pulled out the rough copy
paper, and out of the mass of letter
ing one line seemed to stand illu-
mined.
Norman has quit the firm of Dale,
Lampere 81 Morrison"
Judith read on breathlessly.
The other day in court, some one
informed me that Norman Dale's
name had disappeared from the door
of the firms Offices. I telephoned
them and the girl told me Norman
was out Of town.
When asked where could reach
him, she said he had asked that his
address be kept secret. Nor did she
know when he could return nor when
that address would be available.
"(Wait til I take a story over the
phone just mort, okay, ready
to 60 again.)
Il asked to talk to Lampere. He
was smooth as silk, or as usual, and
said Norman had left town to rest. !
asked why his resting made it neces-
sary for his name to be removed and
he said Norman had thought it ad-
visable as he was liable to remain
away for several years. might never
return, that due to his late embar-
rassment' (meaning you and the
Bevins money! he might remain away
permanently, even taking bar exami-
nations in some other State.
II said, Bologna and he said,
'What?' and I repeated, How inter-
esting, may I use this in a news