Evening star., 1934-04-20
CHAPTER XXXIX.
CALLERS COME

CALLERS COME.
THE storm was over. the clean
cool air that followed in its
wake blew through Judith's
i house. Delphy shifted it CRATE
fully as she stood at the
kitchen door, then shifted back to-
ward the kitchen and waddled rap
idly across the floor toward the stove.
Didn't burn" she said with sigh
OF relief, and drew a golden-brown,
upside down cake from the oven.
Carefully then she went over her
menu for the evening meal.
She went to the front door and
looked down the hill. Judith Dale
was coming up alone. Her clothing,
dripping wet from the still falling
rain, clung to her slim figure, her
hair hung in bedraggled wisps, even
her shoulders seemed slouched under
some sodden weight,
AS she came close she looked up
and Delphy wondered if the wet
drops glistening on her cheeks were
raindrops or tears.
Look at cha" she growled. like
q mother bear "Just look. Like a
drownded rat, hair a hangin'. What
you suspect to do, take yo' death a
cold? Come long in here and git in
your tub. Take those wet clothes
Off"
She started peeling the garments
from the unprotesting girl as she
scolded, handed her a flannel robe
and went to fill the canvas tub. Still
Judith said nothing. Obediently she
went to the tub, bathed. dressed in
dry, clothing and came back to the
main room to sit down in chair and
stare stupidity at the door.
Delphy carried in small tray with
a cup of strong. black coffee and
Judith slipped it dutifully.
Miss Judy" Delphy could stand
her silence no longer, what you-all
grievin' for? What's happent?"
I'm not grieving. Delphy, I'm
Just Just sunk, that's all"
You mean cause that well done
blew up?"
1T didn't blow up, Delphy; light
ming struck the derrick. There was
leak in a drum of fuel oil that
blew up and caused the other drums
to CO."
"Laws-a-me," confided Delphy, Il
done thought judgment day were here
sure-nuff. I could just hear Ga
briel a blowin' his hon an, Miss
Judith" Delphy giggled a little. Il
most made up my mind to send Lige
back his money, what's left OF 1t,
cause I didn't play honess, was too
scared a losin' and not gettin' to
come long with you"
1T did make an awful noise: thank
Heavens every one was over here on
the hill. The debris flew for hun
dreds of yards, and one piece went
right through one Of the motor truck
houses. From tn, way Mamie Scog-
gins is acting you'd think I'd ordered
the lightning in"
You mean she say you have to
build another one?"
ayes. Delphy. and I haven't the
was confding in the old woman, but
she had to talk to some one and
goodness knew that no one had been
more faithful. You see, in our con-
tract I agreed to see they dug or
W IlIC 4ChCl'
They are only down three. Delphy
why does everything have to
60 wrong?"
Reckon it's the Devils Dam, Miss
Judy, but everything amt a-goin'
wrong. That there lightnin' was
throwed down there by Mister Toms
ghost. He done see what misery
them Scogginses were bringin' you.
But don't you worry none. Mass
Norman, he'll come long back. Some
these days that bad boy, I knows
him, and then everything will be all
right"
Judith started to eat to please
Delphy, then found she was really
hungry, the food delicious
"Delphy." she said, as the old
woman appeared with triangle of
cake, topped with cloud of whipped
cream, what did you mean when
you said Mr.. Norman would be COM
ing back? You know I left Hillen-
dale, he didn't leave me-"
Miss Judy, Mass Nom, he left
you, afore you left Hill and Dell"
What do you mean. Delphy?"
IF Mass Norman had been united
to you in solemn matrimony he
wouldn't acted like he done"
But. Delphy, we were
t1nited-O