The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-08-05
CHAPTER III-Continued

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But when Phil opened the door
he saw a young man he did not
know, and the man said: "Tm Pro-
lessor Brace. Is Miss Sentry at
homer"
Phil was bewildered; but then
Barbara, drying her eyes, came
past him. "Of counsel" she said.
s'I'm sorry, Professor! I'd forgotten
you were coming"
She shook hands with him uncer-
tainly. He said, looking at their
pale faces, at Barbara's red eyes,
s'I'm afraid I've come at the wrong
time"
No one had asked him to come in.
He still stood in the open door. Phil
started to speak; but Barbara said,
"Oh mol" She put on, quickly, like a
mask, bright vivacity. "Come in"
she invited. "There's just the fani-
ly here, and grandmother" She
took his hat. ''Take off your coat"
she said.
He followed doubtfully. In the
living-room Barbara said: "This Is
Professor Brace, mother. You re-
member told you about him? How
kind he WASP"
Mrs. Sentry spoke composedly.
eyes, indeed! Good evening, Pro-
lessor Brace. Barbara told me you
rescued her from some embarrass-
ment." She thought: We must 60 on
in normal ways, as If nothing has
happened; and she added: "Mr.
Sentry was called out on business;
and when you rang, we expected
him. That's why you had such a
reception committee"
He nodded, perceiving the tension
on them all, uncertain what to do or
say. Barbara introduced him to
her grandmother. He sat down;
and the talk ran haltingly, with
many silences, till Mary, unable to
endure this, presently rose.
"I've letters to write" she said.
eff you'll excuse me-" She escaped
upstairs.
Phil asked old Mrs. Sentry,
Grandmother, want me to take you
homer"
''Not yeti I'm not sleepy"
Silence oppressed them, till Bar
bara, forcing herself to talk, told
over again the story of Johnny
Boyd's battle with the policeman,
and the resulting situation from
which Professor Brace had rescued
her. Phil and his mother scarce
heard her, sat with stony faces,
listening for any sound outside. But
old Mrs. Sentry cut in at last, said
sharply: "Stop talking nonsense,
Barbara! It's no time for chit-chat!
We ought to be finding out"
Barbara turned to look at her;
looked past her, came sharply to
her feet, pale and shaken, pointing.
'sLook!" she cried. 'Who's that?"
They saw no one. ''There was a
man at the window!" she whispered.
Phil raced through the hall, and
Professor Brace followed him.
When they opened the front door,
they faced two men. Something ex-
ploded, glaringly, in their faces, and
Phil uttered an angry cry, and one
of the young men said:
"It's all right, Mr.. Sentry! Just
flashlight. We. got word Of Mr.. Sem
try's arrest. We're supposed to ask
whether you have anything to say.
Or perhaps your mother"
Professor Brace, very still, looked
at Phil. Phil demanded hoarsely:
ARREST? Who said so?"
inspector Irons"
''It's not true!"
"I'm afraid it is" said the re-
porter. "He,s been booked for muir
der" And he urged: Better take
it easy, Mr.. Sentry. I know how you
feel, but there'n be a lot Of news
paper men around here in another
ten minutes. If you want to say
anything"
aI've notion to knock your block
off"
The other grinned sympathetical-
ly. II know. Don't blame you. It's
tough, all right. But keep your
head, if you're WISE" He looked at
Professor Brace. "Are you their
lawyer?" he asked.
"I'm Professor Brace of the Har-
ward Business School. But I'm
afraid it's too early for the family
to havs anything to say to report
ers." s .sacs