Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-08-29
CHAPTER 2


II WANT TO hear the facts In
the case, and if I have to depend
on you for them, I suppose it's
.Childs'," Judy answered the ques-
ton of the young attorney who had
said:
els it Childs' or not?"
Good! The corned beef hash is
excellent and there are those who
have great fondness for their
chicken croquettes with mashed
potatoes"
"And hot butter cakes I like
them"
'Then you have been ttere. He
sounded almost glad.
Sometimes for breakfast, after
a party. I know their eggs, too"
It was foolish talk, something
with which to pass away a few Of
the moments that stretched in a
shadowy strain forever since Craig
was gone. Craig-the name turned
in her heart like something burn
ing, quivering, beating, pulsing.
Because she wanted to cry,
Judy's voice was not laughing now,
but thin and cool, the huskiness
quite gone, as she promised to
meet Ronald Birrell at his Offices
at 1.
She would not have minded a sub
way, as a means Of transportation
to the Office, on any other morning.
But today the thought Of the tall
young man who was hurrying to
meet his bride made her legs
weak, her stomach hurt, her head
ache. She called the butler, asked
him to have the town car ready
and sat in one corner as the chauf-
feur threaded his way downtown.
She smiled crookedly as she dis
missed him. This probably was
her last ride in the car. All SER
wants would be leaving within a
few days. But that did not mat
ter. The fortune wasn't impor-
tant. But Craig -.
IF I only had not been so
frightened at marriage, Of love
ending, he would never have mar
ried this other girl. He loved me,
he loved me, he loved mel" The
words went singing through her
heart. Then a sharp contradiction
almost interrupted: "But did he +?
Wasn't it habit2 Maybe. love
doesn't last. You knew it didn't
that's why you refused him before
why be so upset when your the
cries prove true ?"
It was such a hopeless problem
that she finally pushed it away.
She tried to think of young Ronald
Birrell as she went up in the ele-
,vatOr to the Well-knoWn law Offices
where she had gone so many times,
in former days, to pick up check,
or ask favor when her father
was abroad.
Miss Martin greeted her. Idly
Judy noticed her blue eyes, her
bands of honey-colored' hair.
Pretty. And little contemptuous
of the fallen debutante.
'Mr. Birrell is waiting for you,"
she said, and led Judy down the
deeply-carpeted hall to a half open
door.
~ONy oSSRRCA A41oAOOs "A TOLL |
young man. with wide shoulders,
was standing at a window, his back |
turned to her. His hair was red
such a rebellious, rough, vibrant |
red that she checked an impulse to |
laugh. So this was Ronald Birrell, |
the mountain boy from Tennessee,
who had made such name for |
himself during his two years Of |
practice in a southern city that the |
famous law firm had offered him a
place on its staff. In that moment |
before he saw her, she remembered |
other things about him. He had
been a football star, an All-Ameri-
can in fact, at Princeton. Then he
had gone back home to begin the
career which he was continuing in
New York.
He turned. His eyes were gray
and friendly. His face was lean
and tanned. The hand that he ex-
tended was strong and forceful.
Judy Rogers" he said. more i