The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-08-21
CHAPTER VII


cago from Rochester early on Sun
day morning just eight days before
the date set, on the calendar of the
criminal courts, for the trial of Myr.
tie Lorrie for murder Of her husband.
Rod was ignorant Of that date, and
his arrival was without reference to
the trial. He had come back to see
his brother-and Agnes-before leav-
ing for Germany. He had remained
at Rochester much longer than he had
planned.
He had been almost happy there.
That is, he had found more to absorb
him, to interest and excite him in his
work, than ever he had before. Hap
piness for Rod did not depend upon
sensual satisfactions; he consciously
sought none of them, except music,
sometimes. His sole excitement was
In his work and study, which Occu-
pied him hour after hour; then he
would go off on long, swinging walks
alone. He kept his spare, splendid
body in vigorous condition with SWIM
ming, when near water, or with tennis.
Rod played, in fact, to tire himself
out, when he needed it to beat down
the longings within him and his
loneliness.
Sometimes he could ward off the
spells by exhaustion; at other times,
they surprised him unprepared. Rod
would come "home" to his dreary no.
tel room bringing with him new medi-
cal reports upon which he expected
to pass the evening, and he would
never return on the light, but sit mis-
erably and uselessly idle in the dark.
He missed his brother. To be sure,
when they had been in the same city,
days passed without Rodney's seeing
Jud; but he was there, and on such
occasions, Rod could go to him instead
of seeking his own lonely room. And
recently, he had been able to go, with
Jud or alone, to the Gleneiths'. But
now that was lost.
Rod had made friends among the
doctors at Rochester. Not many
friends, to be sure, for Rod was no
mixer; but he had found few con-
genial men whom he liked and re-
spected, and whose lives served the
same purposes as Misunderstanding
Of disease But he could not feel
like seeking them when his spirit
dropped low. They were too like him.
SELF His brother-and Agnes-were
utterly different.
He had expected-and half feared,
half hoped it-that he would have de-
stroyed his power to retain Agnes in
his day-dreams. Losing her, he had
supposed he must lose the delight of
his dream Of her; but this had proved
not so. When his loneliness assailed
him, and he sat in the dark, he longed
for her-her. Separate as he had kept
himself from her, he had never been
so close to another girl. Now she
was his brothers, he believed. So he
must imagine her his own no longer!
But 1t had been futile to forbid this
to himself. And here he was again In
Rod had not wired his brother; ana
30, while dressing as the train entered
the city, he weighed probabilities of
Juu'S WnerGaDOuLS.
It was warm, steamy June morn
ing so it was probable that Jud
would be up early for long day on
the water.
Having no rooms in Chicago, Rod
checked his bag at the station and
phoned his brothers apartment. No
body answered, so Rod took taxi and
told the driver to hurry to the harbor.
His brothers familiar boat was not
In sight, but when Rod inquired
boy In launch said yes, Mr.. Brad
don's yacht was at anchor. That was
1t, there.
Rod stared at new motor-cruiser
three or four times as large as the
boat he had known. 1t looked ninety
feet long, with graceful clipper bow
and line Of brass-bound portfolios to
cabins, and with cleaning salons
above-deck.
The boy ran Rod out to it; and on
the quarterback stood Jud. He was
bareheaded and wearing flannels with
out a coat.
No guests were in sight, and Rod
was glad OF that, though he was sure
that guests must be on the way or
were to be picked up at some port or
pier. Jud never planned a Sunday on
the water without a party.
Rodney hailed: "Judl Hello!" And
his brother saw who was in the launch.
He stood stock still with surprise;
and then Rod saw him laugh and run
to the boat step, and he caught Rods
hand and hauled his brother aboard.
"ROd!" said Jeb-and Rod felt his
brothers arm tighten about his Shout
ders. Like the skiff, old skater
Rodney obediently glanced about.
1T looks great, Jud. / didn't know it
was yours"
Good Lord" said Jeb, 'it was in
all the papers. Why's he waiting"
Jeb looked at the launch. Forget to
pay him?"
7 paid him." said Rod. but told
him to walt"