The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-10
CHAPTER XII


Mrs. Macpherson said. as Jim fn-
ished a heartening mid-afternoo,i
lunch in the kitchen at the cottage.
mot just yet, Bessie" Jim
pushed back his chair and stood
wearily erect.
"You must be ready to drop. No
sleep last night and all those ques-
tions this morning. 1t was down.
right bad manners the way that
Judge or whatever he was talked to
you"
Official routine" Jim said, smil-
ing to tighten Mrs. MacPherson's
concern. I'm going to bed pretty
soon. Right now I've something to
do"
Mrs. Macpherson sighed. Jim
went out of the cottage and down
the orchard path. He had to find
Tommy before he could sleep. Tom
my had not been present at the
hearing this morning. Cecily had
been there, accompanied by Jere-
my Clyde. The MacPhersons, too,
had been present, Dolly's father and
stepmother, her brother, joey, the
one who sang, more closely reSem-
bling Dolly than any of her family,
the same f1ax-blue eyes and impu-
dent charm. Seeing Joey in the mag
istrate's office this morning had CIV
en- Jim a bad moment or two.
The hearing had been less of an
ordeal than he had anticipated. Ser
geant McCready presented report
from the hospital. Dolly's condition
was much the same. She had re-
gained partial consciousness, to-
ward morning, only to slip back into
unconsciousness again The doctor
in charge of the case would not, as
yet, make a definite statement. The
inference seemed to be, Sergeant
McCready stated, that the Dolly
Dorothy Quinn, how strange that
sounded!-was in a serious condi-
tion as a result of fractured skull.
Following the hearing, Jim was
detained in the magistrates Office
until Mr.. Vaughn's lawyer came out
from the city and signed the bail
bond acting on authority from Mr..
Vaughn who had made the arrange
ments by longdistance. Mr.. Vaughn
was returning at once. Cecily had
told Jim that at the close of the
hearing. Jeremy Clyde had been
sympathetic. He had even seemed
to be distressed about his predica-
ment, Jim thought, recalling Jere
my's white and shaken look during
the brief public interview he'd had
with Cecily and her guest.
Mr.. Vaughn would arrive at
"Meadowbrook" some time about
noon tomorrow. The matter would
be cleared up speedily then. But
Jim wanted to talk to Tommy.
Susan was sitting on the steps
of the side veranda, a disconsolate
little figure, her chin resting on her
knees. She sprang up when she
caught sight of Jim, ran to meet
him. flung herself at him impetu-
ously.
What's all this?" Jim asked
holding her off, looking down into
the wide hazel eyes upturned to
him.
will they put you in jail?" Her
lips trembled; her eyes filed with
tears.
"Of course not" Jim said cheer
fully. What gave you that idea?"
Mora said they would and so
did Rose" Tears spilled down over
her cheeks. She held tightly to
Jim'S arm.
Neither Nora nor Rose know ev-
erything. Stop crying, silly. Your
eyes will be red for the wedding.
People will think you have hay
| fever"
Il don't want to go to the we'd
ding" She pressed closer to him.
, L WALT W stay mere WIFI yOu-
''Oh, come now" Jim says coax
ingly. They can't have the we'd
ding without you. Think how dis
appointed the bride and groom will
be and all the people"
I'm afraid, while I'm gone,
they'll come ano take you away"
"Nonsense!" I'll be here when
you get back"
''Truly?" she asked.
Certainly. I'm going to the cot
tage and sleep for day and a half.
Will you bring me some wedding
cake?"
She nodded. Did they put hand
cuffs on you," she asked, like in
the movieS?"
mo. They treated me very po-
litely. Where is Tommy"
Hes out on the front lawn writ
ing a letter. He told me to go away
so l think it's to a girl. 1 don't
care if they do put you in jail, "
she cried vehemently. "I'll like you
Just the same. 1 do like you aw-
fully, jim"
(TO BE CONTINUED
u