The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-07-29

spector Irons sat on one side OF
him, the man in plain clothes on the
other. There were policemen in uni
form in front, and Phil noticed abb
stractedly the radio antenna, like
an old-fashioned buggy whip, pro-
jecting above the roof. He thought
in a dull way that his father must
be crowded in the narrow seat;
since the Inspector was big man,
and so was his companion. The car
drove away.
When Phil went back into the
house, into the dining-room, old
Mrs. Sentry was herself again. He
asked, "All right, grandmother"
"All right? Of course I'm all
right" she said sharply. 81 was all
right all the time. just did it to
give you all something to think
about. You were standing around
like lot of statues, scared sillyv
"Your color's come back" Phil
commented.
''It was never gone," she insisted.
Mrs. Sentry rsse, and she said in
q low tone, thinking Of the serv-
ants, "Come into the living-room."
They followed her quietly, not
speaking, not daring to speak. The
others sat down, but Phil remained
standing. His cheeks were still stiff;
his lips felt thick and clumsy. Yet
here were four of them, four won-
en-, his sisters, his mother, his
grandmother. He was the only man;
he must do something, say some
thing
He said, cropping: GLOW about a
rubber of bridge You don't want
to go home yet, do you, grand
mother?"
Old Mrs. Sentry said sharply:
''Don't be an idiot, Phil! Don't try
to stick your head in the sand. All
our heads. Face the factl They
think your father killed that girll"
Barbara gasped, looking from one
to another, her eyes beseeching
them to deny this. Mrs. Sentry
made an indignant sound; and Phil
argued unconvincingly: ooh, I don't
think so! They probably just want
some more information or some
thing. Maybe they've arrested some
one and want father to identify
him."
Nonsense! I'm too old to fool
myself, or to be fooled!"
Barbara's eyes were streaming,
yet she made no sound. Mary was
red as flame. Mrs. Sentry said re-
sentfully, "But mother, you surely
don't believe"
The older woman said CURLY:
1.-THE police aren't fools! If they
have arrested Arthur, be sure they
had good reason!"
81 hope you won't talk like that
before outsiders!"
'Outsiders!" Grandmother Sentry
snorted. ELLEN, you're a plain
snob!"
81 have some pride!" Mrs. Sem
try said composedly.
s'This will shake it out of you'll"
the old woman predicted, almost
with relish. 81 don't know wheth-
er Arthur killed this girl or not; but
it wouldn't surprise me! It's won
der to me he hasn't got mixed UP
with some woman long ago. ! don't
know how he lives in the same
house with you and your pride!"
Mrs. Sentry smiled patiently,
thinking: She was always scold,
harridan. I suppose she was pref
ty, and Arthur's father lost his head
and married her. Then she saw
Barbara staring at them both
through tears, and she protested,
REALLY, mother!"
Grandmother Sentry said more
gently: "There, Ellen, I'm sorryl
We can't mend the past now, sup
pose. After all"
She stopped, for tires Kissed on
gravel, in the drive outside, and
while they listened rigidly, some
one came up the steps and rang
the bell. Phil cried in a great re-
lief, "There, he's back already"
He went to the door, the two girls
on his heels. :
no BE CONTINUED