The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-10-01
CHAPTER XIV

a
hung over the traffic court.
GROUPS of people clustered tQgeth-
er ewing the judges closed door
from which somehow a hint Of un-
expected developments had erept
forth. -
Inside Pat still sat on the big
leather sofa near the window.
Someone had thrown a wrap over
her shoulders which sagged with
n WEAKNESS not all physical. The
gentle spring breeze blew against
her damp forehead, bringing her
back from the gray, misty world
of near-forgetfulneSS into which
she had slipped.
She wondered duly what they
were doing. 1t might be that she
was seeing this room for the last
time today. Perhaps she would
be fired. Ii wasn't at all impos-
sible, she thought, recalling again
the blank aStoniShment on the
faces Of Tom and Church when
she had stammeringly exploded
the bombshell Of her knowledge.
If she had only herself to con-
slider; but there was the family,
the shame of telling them, the
plans the boys had of working
during the summer on Jobs Larry
had promised, her mothers sor-
row when neighbors would men
ton the affair and look question
ins-y as they offered sympathy:
For of course everyone would
know. She was prepared for that.
And Tom-she gave a little
moan, drawing the wrap closer
around her shoulders when q
shiver passed over her despite the
warm air pouring into the room
from the sunny out-of-doorS. She
hadn't even been able to look at
him. She was afaid to, anyway
she admitted. What was there he
could think, but that she had been
such a coward, a traitor to have
waited all these hours while he
stubbornly fought for a convie-
ton which she could so easily
have made possible. .s
A twinge of sympathy for Larry
went through her heart. Larry,
too, was sitting down. He was
over across the room with big Of
ficer Burke standing beside him,
and he was watching the attorneys
and detectives.
Desk Sergeant Timothy O'Shea
came in, the room bringing her
q fresh glass Of water. ,"Sure now
don't be lookin' as though you'd
lost yer last friend" he whis-
pered. "lt's a brave girl We areI
for the lad was your sweetheart,
wasn't he?" e.. -.. &c.,.
"Not any more. Tom" she said.
slipping the water. Its all over
now"
49, s,- o.,
There wasn't much that wasn't
over, she thought again. Know
ing Tom had cared for her had
lessened the ache of losing Larry.
of the disillusionment that came
from knowing his weakness. But
Toms love had also been a thing
of yesterday. That, too, must be
all over. Looking at him, stern
and engroSsed, she felt that life
had become an empty, futile
thing. Losing Larry had been
hard, Al moments when she I'M
6ersteod what he had done to her
the world seemed a drear place.
But losing Tom made her see
what real love was.
To lose him was bitter because
Tom had not. failed her., 1t. was
shei whe had failed. Everything
ABOUT him was the same, all she
could admire. And she knew what
failing someone meant, Her own
love hadn't. survived the test, 30
how~eeuld she expecs. Toms love
for her to last. "a
The, men seemed to have reach
ed some sort of decision. They
stood up, turned toward Larry
while Tom spoke. + - -
You see, Kent, the whole situa-
ton has changed, but: we want
you to clearly understand your
rights. You don't have to take
the stand. You can rest the case
on the peoples evidence and per-
NIT the jury to make the decision.
Or you can go ahead and take
the stand as your attorney says
he was prepared to have you do.
"lf you submit. to cross-exam-
ination It won't be a picnic due
to these new Developments. If
you want Church to continue the
ease you may as well know that
thisSwitness," pointing toward Pat