Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-10-12

Young woman, you've been
lplaying a risky game, and you've
lost it. 1t was worse than risky, it
was a dirty game, and if the story
ever came out you would be a long
time living it down. And if your
father should get wind of it, and
the way you've let yourself in for
blackmail, he'd pack you off some
where. Ambrose is pretty easy with
|you, but he has his limits
II shouldn't think you could af-
ford to talk about blackmail!" Cleo
blazed at him. II suppose you mean
that you are going to hold your
precious documents over my head
to keep me from telling"
Call it anything you please. But
get this idea firmly in your head
this thing is going to soop right
here. You are going to keep quiet
about the whole business. l haven't
told Duane yet about your at
tempts to railroad his wife, buE at
the first indiscretion he is going 20
get the whole nasty story. If |
should die before you, the sealed
papers will go to Nancy. Have
made myself clear?"
Gage had found the one weak
spot in her hard little armor. Of
all the people in the world, she
could least endure to have Barry
known what she had done to get
him.
At the door he paused. "There's
an express that goes through the
Junction at seven. I've wired for
a compartment for you, and Petry
will take you over. Martha is pack
ing your trunk now. | told her TO.
Goodbye"
The door closed behind him.
When Nancy awoke it was mid
afternoon and someone was sitting
on an absurdly low stool beside
her bed. He was bent over with his
head resting on mis- hands, and the
stool was so low that the bowed
head was only a little way from
herhngers tips, where they rested
Imply On the bed. 1t was a brown
head, with thick hair roughened
in the way she had loved. 1t
couldn't be real. She moved her
hand to touch it.
"Oh-hello!" He trie SO hard
to be matter of fact-not to fri
ghten her. ITS pretty nice to sec
you awake again"
Mice" She repeated it with
dreamy content. Her hand went
up slowly, and touched his cheek,
and he caught hold of it and held
it closer, turning his head to bury
his lips in a soft palm.
Sweet little Nancy! If you will
just get well-and come back,
there's nothing else in the world
that's going to NATTER.
"Nice!' she said again, and re-
leased a happy sigh.
Under her grop;ng fingers his
cheek was suddenly wet.
Trails End,' she murmured
contentedly. II was hoping-it
would be-"
She dropped off to sleep again,
holding his hand.
There was still much to be done
before life could go its normal way
again. There was, as Gage blumtly
put it, publicity to be thought of.
"A girl named Nancy Curtis, who
had been drowned last May, must
come to lift again. The young
doctor would be professionally dis
Greet. Cleo had gone, but Gage had
assured them that she would be un-
able to tell anything more than the
version which they would give out.
Barry received it without comment.
He went in to see Kennedy.
Getting in practice for a trip
Kennedy explained off handedly
1.-The doctor is going to get an am
bulance rugged truck out here to
start me off. How is Nancy?'
Better. She-asked after you.'
Good little trouper." The hard
black eyes softened for an instant.
."They don't come any better -han
Nancy. You might-no, I'll say it
in a letter. You needn't mind-it'U
be perfectly proper"
ri don't. I've-learned things
Kennedy broke the silence.
II saw the former Mrs. Kennedy
this morning. She was very careful
not to look this way. l suppose
they've made it up, and everything
is all rosy AGAIN."
II think So" Barry was curt
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