Evening star., 1934-08-13
CONTINUED From Sixth Page)

caught sight Of Johnnie Casey wait
ing in her fathers old place. When
you have lived next door to a boy for
Is years, he Is almost as good as
member of the family, and it made
the return to Cramburg little less
desolate to find him there.
Mrs. Connell couldn't come to the
etetion," he answered their anxious
inquiries. as he piloted them to his
shabby car. She's not so good, m
afraid. It was an awful shock, natur-
ally, and DR.. Belden put her to bed.
There was a nightmare quality
about the next few days. The crowds
of sympathetic neighbors, whom
Mazda must see, as her mother easily
became hysterical; the decisions about /
funeral arrangements; the bleak, low
erine day of the funeral itself, with
the sad finality of the prayers at the
grave. the mound of fresh earth under
q tarpaulin. Then there was the
matter of looking over her fathers
belongings; his clothes, neatly and
soberly put away, his letters, his few
little keepsskes. Here was picture
of his high school graduating class,
round faced boys and girls in the over
whelming clothes of the century's first
decade; here was a medal for swim
ming. a pressed rose. carefully tied
bundle of letters with the notation.
''the children's first letters"
Mazda was sitting alone in the
library when Charlotte, the second
maid. came to tell her that Mr. Acker-
man had called and asked to speak
to some one of the family.
"I am here as your fathers lawyer
as well as a friend, my dear" said
old Mr.. Alderman, after he had
greeted Mazda. II really feel 1t is
important to have talk about busi-
ness matters at once, that is, if your
mother feels like seeing me. You
understand, Miss Mazda? You have
some indication of how things are?"
mo, Mr.. Ackerman. What do you
mean?"
That makes it more diff1cult,"
muttered the old man. We'll, clean
cut is best. The sooner it is over the
better"
Somewhat disturbed by Mr.. Acker-
mans manner, Mazda ran up to her
mothers bed room. Mrs. Connell had
revived enough to lean against the
pillows in a fetching negligee.
"I must look fit to be seen, in case
some one comes in," she had told
Mazda plaintively. Heaven knows
I don't care, for myself, but owe 1t
to your fathers memory to keep up
my self-respect."
at Stanley, who sat by the bed reel
ing off an interminable tale Of
prof who had given him low grades
because he resented the aristocratic
type of man in Stanley's fraternity.
"And he told Cuthbert. that's the
head of our chapter that there was
no place for snobs in State uni
versity. Can you beat it?"
Mazda smiled inwardly at stanley's
version of the tale. Stan had been
awfully good, though: he had stayed
with their mother for hours on end.
and his company soothed her. as
nothing else did.
I'm glad you are feeling better,
mother" said Mazda. bending down
to kiss the still youthful face. mfr.
Ackerman Is downstairs, and he says
it is quite important to see you, If you
feel UP to it,"
THAT old borel Really. I don't
think should be subjected to such
q trial, for q few days, anyway"
"It's not Just o call, mother. He
Gays he is here as fathers lawyer,
and he seems worried about some
thing"
Il don't know why he should worry.
Probably wants to make sure I will
still let him handle this estate. Once
you're alone in the world every one
tries to take advantage of you.
have heard that so often"
Let him come up, Nom" advised
Stanley. Probably he wants to read
the will. Isn't that the usual thing?
1t always Is, in books"
There is no need of reading any
will to me. Your father told me
years ago that he had left every
thing to U.s."
well, Just to satisfy old Alderman,
let's have him up"
Just as you say, Stanley dear
Stanley has been such comfort to
me. And you, too, Mazda. Mother
appreciates the way her big girl has
taken the housekeeping off her
hands" sighed Mrs. Connell. She
stretched languid hand to Mr.
Ackerman as he entered the room.
Dear Mr.. Ackerman, I am too LII
TO come down. but I couldn't refuse
10 see Roberts old friend"
"I don't like to intrude, Mrs. Con-
nell, but I thing We ought to have a
talk at once. Had Bob told you any,