The Coolidge examiner., 1938-02-10
CHAPTER IX-Continued


He helped her out and carried her
suitcase In for her. Mrs. Harris
and the niece who was still with
her came out to meet them. and
there was no chance for a parting
word. Just goodnight and smile
before everybody. and Margaret felt
suddenly the letdown after the won
derful day of companionship.
With a somewhat dreary feeling
she ate the nice supper that Mrs.
Harris had prepared for her, told
cheerful pleasant anecdotes Of her
visit at home. gave Mrs. Harris the
messages her grandmother had
sent and then went up to her room
and put away her things.
Finally she sat down and wrote
as CHEEKY a letter to the home folks
as she could write, went out to the
post box on the corner and mailed
it so they would know as soon as
possible that she was safely back,
then shook the snow out of her
hair and went to bed. But she did
not go TO sleep. She lay there for
several hours and tried to think Of
the mortgage and work some way
out to pay it.
She wrote another long letter to
her grandparents on Sunday.
Monday morning she went to
work. There was great stack Of
mail orders to fill and one per-
sonal letter for Sterling. 1t was
postmarked Virginia and written in
strong hand. That must be from
his friend Steele, about whom he
had talked so much.
Greg didn't come in until after
eleven. He came with his brisk
businesslike way and, though there
was a pleasant light in his eyes
when he greeted Margaret. there
was nothing more to remind her Of
the companionship they had shared
those delightful few days.
She handed him the mail with the
Virginia letter on the top. and he
tore it open eagerly.
Then suddenly he swung around
TO her.
My friend. Rhoderick Steele, IS
going to be married tonight He
wants me for best man. and the
only way l can possibly make it
now is by airplane. He glanced at
his watch. Il can make it," he
said. IF you will telephone him l
am coming. II you get him at once
phone me at the hotel. but If you
have to wait I'll be gone and you
can just leave message for him
that I'm on my way.
"Good-by!" he said and half put
out his hand. But before her hand
could go out surprisedly to meet his
he suddenly stepped close and put
his arm about her, drawing her
close for an instant. and kissing her
softly. tenderly on her lips.
"Good-by - Margaret" he said
dSdAus oki0 was 6OilC bCAOAC SAiC
could recover from her amazement.
Margaret stood there in the Office
trembling from head to foot with
Joy and awe. The thrill of his kiss
was still on her lips.
She rushed to the telephone, her
cheeks rosy now. her heart crying
out to her, fairly screaming to her,
that she loved Greg and she never
could undo it.
And yet when few minutes lat
er, having held brief converse
with Rhoderick Steele, she called
Greg's hotel. her voice was cool
and impersonal.
But, unfortunately for her re-
solve, she was told by the hotel
clerk that Mr.. Sterling had just left
for Virginia.
Greg came back Wednesday
morning, briskly. joyously. He
looked her fairly in the eyes
with a radiant smile. He spoke
eagerly on business matters at
once.
I'm going to need you this after
noon," he said Can you arrange
to go with me right after lunch.
about one o'clock. say?"
.I could CO." she answered quiet
ly.
We're going shopping" he told
her gleefully as she came out to
the car later, wearing her very best
secretarial manner. Il need quite
a good many things at once"
But he turned the car quite away
from the shopping district and
rushed out into the country as fast
as he could go.
"Oh, l thought you said you were
going shopping" said Margaret at
last in a small voice when the ST.
lence had lasted quite while Greg
had seemed absorbed in his own
thoughts.
II am" he said pleasantly. but
I didn't say where. You see, the
first thing on my list is a house.
I'm going to throw party, you
know, and I have to have a house
TO have it in"
"Oh," said Margaret, quite star
lied. Are you really serious about
that party? But you aren't going to