The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-04-23

SeAA OAA W AAAOCs
There was some explanation. He,
Jim, would have to keep the kid out
of the mess until he could get in
touch with Mr.. Vaughn. He felt
responsible. He shouldn't have let
Tommy believe that Dolly might
make trouble with the moon-caf,
puppy-love letters the boy had writ
ten her. He'd probably taken her
out tonight in an attempt to get
them. Dolly had looked so small
and so still on the stretcher. Was it
possible that Dolly was going to
die :?
When he had gone inside the high
way patrol station with the officers,
Jim asked if he might make a tele-
phone call.
Jim gave the operator MacPher-
sons number. After an interval of
insistent whirring, he heard Mac
Pherson's voice at the other end of
the wire. Feeling grateful that Mrs.
MACPHERSON had not answered the
call, Jim sketched his predica-
ment, asked Macpherson to 60 up
to the house and make sure that ev-
cry member of the family was there
and come at once to the troopers
headquarters at Chestertown. Mac
Pherson's voice, controlled, calmly
efficient, treasured Jim. There was
no cause for alarm, he told himself.
The following hour was unpleas-
ant enough. The sergeant and his
associate asked a wearying number
of questions. Jim knew that they
did not believe his story. Why
should they? he thought. The evil
dence was all against him. He had
to keep Tommy out of it. Oh,
well, it was only for time :.
When the hands of the clock had
crept around past half past three,
Jim heard in the early morning
stiffness the sound of a car stop
ping in front of the house. A mo-
ment later, Cecily came into the
room, followed by Macpherson. She
had not changed her clothes; obvi-
ously she had not gone to bed. She
still wore the filrny floating dress
and the short jacket of brilliant
brocade buttoned snugly at her
waist. Was it only this evening that
he had seen her walking across the
side lawn at "Meadowbrook," wait
ing for her escort to take her to
Marjory Patton's party? 1t seemed
an eternity to Jim.
"Jim!" Cecily cried softly, walk
ing toward him. "What have you
been doing, Jim?" Her voice was
steady, her color was high, her hair
was blown into flying tendrils CIV
ing her an attractively hoydenish
appearance.
'I'm under arrest" he said, with
half smile for Cecily and Mac
Pherson.
"Tell us more of the matter, lad"
Macpherson said quietly. His ex-
preston was grave and concerned.
Jim told the story again.
"But tn a is absurd" Cecily
turned to the tall young trooper
standing beside the desk. 'Mr.
Fielding couldn't have done a thing
like that, Sergeant McCready. It's
utterly impossible. There must be
some mistake"
The darling! Jim thought, touched
and elated by her defense of him,
loving her spirit and her gallantry.
''It is your car, isn't it, Miss
Vaughn" Sergeant McCready
asked.
IT suppose it is" Cecily replied.
cat least my car isn't in the ga
rage. Mr.. Fielding is familiar with
it,"
Sergeant McCready's face was
impressive.
"Did you give anyone permission
to use the car last night" he asked.
''No," she answered promptly.
"But I know Mr.. Fielding didn't
take it. One of the men on the
place must have decided to go on
a SPREE"
SIS everyone at homer" asked
Jim.
Everyone is there" MacPher-
son replied.
"We looked into their rooms"
Cecily continued. "They were all
asleep, Susan, Tommy, Jerry, Miss
Parker, the maids. was just get
ting home from the party when
Macpherson came up to the house.
And now you're going home with
us, JIM"
"We'n have to hold Fielding" the
tall young sergeant said.
Cecily turned swiftly. "Hold him?
Why?"
MACPHERSON glanced at Jim. "I'm
afraid that bail can't be arranged
tonight" he said. II am not a prop
erty owner and Miss Cecily is
minor"
"But you know us, Sergeant Nc
Cready," Cecily appealed to the
trooper. 81 can assure you that
Father would want to do everything
possible for Mr.. Fielding. I'll make
myself personally responsible. Isn't
that enough?"
"I'm afraid not" Sergeant Nc
Cready replied with a haf-smile. "In
the matter of speeding or skipping
a light we do, occasionally, make
an ovcapfiop P11t in a coca lilo fhic