The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-19
CHAPTER vi.

me UOSSAOllAby StAS
Whitaker might be asSgangste.
did not enter Molly's mind unit
later in the evening. She hat
merely come to the CONCLUSION
that ne was surly and untrast
worthy. % ~
+ Midway through the meal
Molly remembered phrase o:
Donna's with the town so over
run with gangsters
She pxled then, studying hel
escorts face and finding some
thing otninous in his strained
tense manner and the way ne KEEP
watching the door.
No, it couldn't be possible. "Ir
spite of being rude, conceited anC
self-cerltered," Molly reasoned
''he isn't the criminal type Be-
sides | couldn't have been inter,
ested for a moment if ne had
been"
And she had been interested
that night at "The Red Poppy"
Dancing in the dark, with this
same man holding her close and
saying things in a low, ardent
voice that had made her pulse
quicken strangely.
Molly's face crimsoned now at
the memory. What blind mad
ness had possessed her?
For some time the seat which
had been occupied by the nice
Young musician had been vacant.
Molly could picture him, speeding
toward the city-and Brent.
The proprietor came to the
platform and explained: my
friends" he said, "Thees ees mos
unfortunate. One of my boys ees
i'll weeth a YER great pain in one
side 1t ees that appendix which
have trouble him many times. !
have excus' him tonight to find
a doctor YER quick, or he thinks
maybe it will surely burst thees
time. Our other boys will make
music without him, 1.-THE best way
thew can" '"' -,
That darling young man with
his bursting appendix!
Molly had muted her voice to
the proper sympathetic note,
"What a shame! Do you think
they can play anymore opera Sc
lections without a violinist?"
81 could do without all of 'em, "
Nelson Whitaker answered cold
". emusic doesn't raise my blood
pressure"
He had not remembered her
notes for request numbers. If ne
had been really clever he might
have connected the sudden illness
of the young man with them. He
was so sure that she was trust
full and unsuspecting. Then, too,
all his attention was apparently
conferred on the outer door. Each
time it opened, he looked startled.
Yet when there was a commo-
ton outside the door and the
sound of the proprietor's protest
ing voice reached them, a hall
smile played across Nelson Whit
takers face. He leaned over to
whisper, Don't be frightened, III
get YOU out of this. "ry
sect me out of what?" Molly's
voice was startled.
ga raid, if | don't miss my
guess. "Frenchy's always getting
into trouble with the boys of the
police department. He's sort OF
forgetful about some things, anc
now and then they come out to
refresh his memory with stiff
Jolt of law. It's too bad hap
pened to pick this night to bring
you out, but don't worry. Wei
probably be able to persuade
them not to lock us up. Pm sure
they won't when they know whc
you are.
"You poor kid" he added
you're frightened to death
aren't you?"
He had discarded his moody
manner and apparently was the
she had danced with a week ago
But much had happened since
then.
NO. Molly thought, "I'm MOI
frightened. 1 was frightened be
fore the police came"
She was going to wake up be
hind bars, just as Brent said. Blu
she would go to Jail quite happily
Tomorrow Brent or Donna woult
bail her out. The newspaper
would be asked to treat the cpl
sode lightly And that would b
all =, So. ..'..r 'N' a..
Just let Nelson Whitaker plea'
their case before the policemen
and She would makeGitcplain tina
she preferred going to- jail. Sh'
! would insist on being takel
! therei
What a fortunate break for her
because Brent might not have
| reached her in time Ito save
her from something vague, indie
Unable, that had been threaten
ing. =,
The door opened. Trailed b!
the protesting proprietor, foul
policemen entered the room, pts
tolls drawn.
"Don't move, folks. Keep you
hands on the table, Nelse Fergu
| A x.,,.. xyN,,, ,DnaGnt Iunrt