Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-12-02

rest quietly.
When finally she was dressed, anC
on her way out, the policeman she
had first seen on her entrance to the
hospital stopped her with blunt in
quiry as to how the accident had oc-
Cured? With open notebook in his
hand, and pencil poised under the
name she had given: "Nellie Wagner
he asked for her address and full par
ticulars.
81 live at 385 West Eightieth St.
Ann said desperately, at random, land
l tripped on the edge of the sidewalk
as I was crossing Twelfth Street. 1t
was quite dark, you understand"
"Then how did you manage to get
to Bleecker Street in the condition
you were in?" the guardian of the
law asked sharply, apparently uncon-
vinced.
T-well-I suppose I wandered -
"Hum? Been on some party in the
Village, was that it?"
Some party? Yes, it had been some
party, with terrifying ending! Odd
but natural that it was she who
was evidently accused of of drinking,
when it had been her assistant, Re-
nita!
She said, in a voice she tried to
make steady: II assure you, officer,
that 1 was cold stone sober, if that's
what you're thinking"
"Okay, sister," He grinned scep-
tically. "You look shaky." Then to
the receptionist: "What about sending
her home in the ambulance?"
mo! A taxi! Pleased"
Let him think she had imbibed un-
wisely, if he wanted to, but never ad-
vertise her accident" by tearing home
ward in screeching vehicle, stopping
the traffic, terrifying her family. 1t
was unthinkable.
"Good morning, Renita! Pm more
than pleased to see you here! Per-
haps you weren't aware of it, but you
were to get your walking papers if
you hadn't shown up this morning on
the dot of mined Those were Mr.. Brad
ley's orders!"
Thus Miss Shellfish, to her head of
stock.
"I've been sick. Terribly sick," said
Renita in low voice.
An indeed she looked ghost-like.
Was Ann Delafield dead? Had
she killed her last night ? Had she
crawled out into the street to sue
cumb?
The enormity of her behavior to-
wards the girl who had come to help
her in her illness had, during the long,
terrible hours of the night, seeped
into the drink-sodden consciousness of
Renita.
Shocked into semi-sobriety, she had
walked the pavements till dawn. In
a claimants shelter she had drunk
some coffee, paced the streets again
restlessly. Ought she to give herself
up to the law? Telephone Ann Della
fields home and confess everything?
Already for all she knew, the police
we're in her apartment, waiting to ar
rest her. Before her loomed a vision
IF the electric chair.
She trembled in every nerve when
a policeman stopped her on lower Fif-
III Avenue.
"I've been suffering from insomia.
Seems the only way can get little
sleep is by walking till I'm dog dead
sired."
"Well, you go right home, sister,
Or I'll have to take you to the sta
tion for a nights Sleep" he told her
grimly.
She went back to her apartment.
Thank God! No nemesis was there!
"If only she doesn't die, please God,
I'll never, never touch another drop
Of drink as long as I live!"
Over and over, Renita repeated this
prayer.
And, in her desperation, meant it.
With shaking fingers she lifted the
papers from the outside door
mat, scanned it's pages for some tragic
news of the unfortunate young Ann.
Would the Telephone ring? Would
she be arrested?
ANNAPOLIS - MATAPEAKE
ROMANCOKE - CLAIBORNE
FALL & WINTER SCHEDULE-1938
Effective September 20. 1888