The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-21
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partment at Helyig's store, ae-
cepts an invitation from one OF
her customers, Sandra Leigh, to
Join a weekend party at Crest
Mountain Lodge.
Helena goes. Also a member OF
the party is handsome Peter Hem
derson fro ma nearby town. Ii
is a cas- eof love at first sight be-
tween Helena and Peter. Almost
immediately he asks her to marry
him. Helena hesitates, finally
agrees. Ii is decided that the
marriage shall take place that
very day and justice of peace IS
summoned to perform the eere-
mony.
There are several hours before
the train on which Peter and
Helena plan to depart elaves, and
the whole crowd decides to go
swimming. Peter dives reeklessiy
and is seriously injured.
While they are waiting for the
doctor Peter asks Helena to tele-
phone his lawyer, John Courtney,
asking him to come and to bring
Leath.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER V
Courtney's explosive explana-
ton at the news of a Mrs. Peter
Henderson" startled Helena. She
brought her lips closer to the
niouthpiece of the telephone.
you'll be here, then? And you
understand Peters message about
bringing Leah?"
"Of course I'll be there" the
lawyer said. "But if you're really
his wife I'll be damned if un-
derstand Peters message about
bringing Leah. But I'll bring her
though, if that's what he wants.
And if she'll come"
There was a silence during
which Helena was uncertain as to
whether Courtney had hung up.
Then his voice came suddenly
again: when were you mar
ried?"
"T-today," Helena faltered.
what was your name? | mean
are you anyone l knew? Are
you anyone Peter knew before
before today?"
The blood rushed to Helena's
face. She experienced sudden
resentment and anger, despite the
circumstances there in Crest
Mountain Lodge. ''Pm simply de-
livering Peters message, Mr..
Courtney. I'll be glad to answer
your questions when you arrive"
She replaced the instrument in
its cradle and dropped her be-
wildered head into her hands.
John Courtney's tone had been
unmistakable. So had the impli-
cation of his words. eyes, I'm
Peter HenderSon's attorney.
What's up now?" Apparently
Peter had more than once been
in trouble of some sort. And who
was this Leah? Why had Court
ney said that if Peter was really
married ne was damned" if ne
understood Peters message
about bringing Leah?" Helena's
whole body grew cold. WaS-was
Leah really John COurtney's
friend or was she Peters?
Her troubled thoughts were in
terrupted by sound in the outer
room. 1t was no more than the
opening and closing of a door
but it might mean that Blair
Lowell had arrived with the doc
tor, that Fain had really seen
them from the window and had
not been mistaken at that distance
from the road.
Returning to the larger room,
Helena found that Fain had been
right. Sandra was leading the
doctor across the room. Helena
hurried toward the physician. 81
Pm his wife, Would you like
to have me help you?"
The doctor smiled down at her
young, troubled face. THANK you.
Perhaps I'd better have a look at
him first, and then :" He broke
off, patting her shoulder with a
reassuring calm. He glanced at
the others, all standing off dis
creetly. He was only country
doctor, unknown in the city, and
his work had never been recorded
in the medical journals-but here
in that room, in this emergency,
he commanded the respect that
his years of self-sacrifice and
near poverty deserved.
Helena had believed that the
more than an hour preceding the
doctors arrival had been long.
But it was nothing in the span
of time compared with the few
minutes the physician spent alone
in the room with Peter. Time aft
er time she struggled with her
self. fighting against the impulse
to open the door and demand the
truth.
But finally she looked up to see
the doctor coming into the main
room of the lodge. His face was
inscrutable, his manner still calm
Helena flew from Sandra's com
forting presence to learn Peter
condition.
allow is he, doctor?"
The serious-faced little mer
met her gaze. "Your husband Il
in rather a serious state, Mrs
Henderson. Conclusion, Of
course He lowered his voice
"His condition complexities mat
ters." He looked at her knowing
~, assuming that she had peer
married to Peter for some time.
'sT-I don't know what yo'
mean, doctor" .y---