Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-09-16
CHAPTER 4S

FOR GAY, the Scott family din
ner was CHASTITY experience.
Seated at the foot of the long,
carved oak table, she felt herself
miles away from Christian. She
was not enough at ease to converse
with him from that awe-inspiring
distance. And since neither Sc
rena his daughter, and her bored
seeming husband, nor Clarence, his
son, and the latter's sharp-featured
wife, made the slightest effort to-
ward conversation with Gay, the
meal was fairly quiet.
Two or three times. Christian at
tempted to hven things up, by adj
dressing a remark to his fiancee,
or one of the children. But he,
too, finally relapsed into gloomy
silence.
Course after course of excellent
food was placed upon the table.
Men servants stood attentively be-
hind chairs, retilling glasses and
changing plates. But Gay scarcely
tasted what she ate or drank. She
could only pray that this dreadful
evening might soon be over.
Then something Clarence Scott
was telling his father, caught her
attention. She sat rigid, her fork
halfway to her mouth.
"Out on the desert in Arizona
bad Young Carter"
Gay found courage to interrupt.
She raised her voice so that she
could be heard down the length
Of the table.
Christian, dear-was Wayne
with him? Were they-killed?"
1t seemed hours before Christian
answered, yet he had only paused
TO take a drink of water.
Garter was alone in the plane,
I believe. No, he was not killed
The first reports had him seriously
Injured. But Clarence tells me that
the latest newspaper editions say it
is simply matter of few broken
bones. And completely de-
molished airplane." He turned to
his son. Il never had any faith
in that new type motor Adams de-
signed. They tried to interest me
for while there, but l decided
against it. This wreck only proves
my judgment was correct"
LAS usual, father" Gay caught
the note of sarcasm in Clarence's
polite comment.
For few moments longer, the
airplane disaster provided a SUBJ
ject for conversation. Gay, twist
ing the diamond engagement ring
with restless fingers, and trying to
hide her intense concern under an
indifferent manner, learned that
Breck Carter had lain for hours in
some isolated spot on the desert,
pinned beneath the shattered plane.
Fortunately, the wreckage had not
caught fire, and his weak cries for
help had finally been heard.
He had been removed to a hos
pital, and Peggy Pencil and her
father, with Wayne Adams, had
chartered an airplape and flown
West, that afternoon, to be with
him.
And so. ends the career of the
Adams motor" Christian chuckled.
grimly. II imagine Charles Pen
nell wishes now he had taken my
advice, and stayed out!'
Serena spoke for the first time.
You do give excellent advice,
father"
When they rose, eventually, from
the table, Gay breathed a sigh of
relief If only Christian would send
for the car now, and let her go
home. She had had enough, and
more than enough of wealth and
grandeur. 1t would be heaven to
get back to the familiar shabbiness
OF home-the noisy laughted and
kidding of red-headed Jean!
But release did not arrive so
quickly.
Now, Christian announced, Cav
must see the house itself, her fu-
ture home, from basement to at
TIC, He especially wished to show