The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-17
CHAPTER XII-Continued

Go up ana take nap. Inc wed
ding isn't until six You'll have
time enough. / want to see Tom
my"
Susan went off toward the house,
paNsing on the veranda steps to
call back to Jim. Can I come to
the cottage after the wedding" she
asked, land bring you some cake?"
IN probably be sleeping. You
can put it under my pillow" He
smiled and waved his hand.
The smile vanished as Jim walked
on around the side of the house. His
prospective interview with Tommy
was no smiling matter.
Tommy was writing at a card
table set up under the purple beech
at the far end of the lawn. He
glanced up as Jim approached his
face lighting with interest and ex-
citement.
Hi" he called, knocking box
OF stationery off the table in the
colt-like exuberance of his welcome.
They let you out all right, didn't
they? l knew Dad could fix it.
knew that even state cops can't put
anything over on Dad"
Jim was amazed. He had expect
ed to find Tommy either terrified
and evasive or dramatically re-
mofseful and tragic.
Tommy" he asked gravely, did
you take Cecily's car last night?"
The question, obviously, had a
staggering effect.
Did 1 take it?" he asked. "You
mean did -"
Exactly" Jim continued. "Did
you take Dolly driving last night in
Cecilys carr"
Me? Gosh no, Jim!" In Tom
rny's startled countenance amaze
ment and passionate protest were
convincingly blended 81 didn't
know anything about what happened
last night until Cecily told us this
morning. Gosh, Jim, did you think
l ran off and left her when she
was hurt? l mean you'd have to
have thought that if you thought
did it. Nobody would be as low as
that. Nobody would"
Somebody did," Jim said.
"Where were you last night?"
Tommy's expression altered. He
slumped down in the chair at the
table.
"Oh just around" he said, dis
playing, for the first time. sugges-
tion of the evasion which Jim had
expected.
This is important" Jim said
sternly. you've got to tell me- ="
II had a date" Tommy num-
bled and then in tone of justified
indignation, whats the idea of rib
bing me-" he asked. Haven't I
got a right to have a date if I
want to-"
You're concealing something, "
Jim said sternly.
Tommy flushed. well, if you've
got to know" he said, 81 had a
date with the girl who's visiting
Betty Bea ch."
Jim was relieved.
''Why did you try to make mys-
terry of that?" he asked.
Tommy's hands fidgeted with OBJ
jects on the table.
Il took her out in the Pierce, "
he said. Nov, 1 suppose you'll
have to tell Dad. What does he ex-
pect? 1 can't take a smooth num-
Der like Carol out in the station
wagon. l suppose you'll consider it
your sacred duty to tell Dad,
though" he added expectantly.
''At the moment" Jim said wear
lily, your taking the Pierce seems
relatively un;mportant."
tommy frightened.
She's smooth number" he said
dreamily. "Sne went home this
morning"
And you're writing to her al
ready?"
well, l thought I'd better sign
her up for the Thanksgiving dance
at school. She has lots of dates"
Jim sighed and smiled, amused
fo- the moment.
You're perennial Romeo" he
said. Il thought you'd stopped writ
ing letters to young ladies'"
Carols different" Tomm y
looked down at the table, fitted the
cap of a fountain pen on and off, his
expression sober, little en-
barrassed. You know, Jim," he
said, II don't believe Dolly would
have made a fuss about those let
terS."
NO." Jim said, seeing Dolly with
painful vividness for an instant,
Dolly sparkling behind the soda bar
in the drugstore, Dolly lying on the
stretcher in the flooding radiance of
the headlights, so small and SO still.
NO" he repeated, Dolly Wouldn' t
have made a fuss"
Il think she was jus: kidding
me-" Tommy continued.
Il was kidding you, Tommy. l
thought being uncertain about what
she might do, would make you
work. 1t was entirely my own idea"
well, I'll be-" Tommy gave
indications of exploding with indig-