Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-10-20
CHAPTER Is

Linda was excited and tense-but
not too excited nor too tense to notice
that it was John-Mr. Avon-who had
spoken to Bills mother about Linda.
Not Bill. If Bill Blaine had told his
mother of the girl he loved, Mrs.
Blaine failed to mention that fact.
After presenting Linda to Mrs.
Blaine, Mr.. Blaine had introduced
Bills brother, Jack.
Funny, that one. Jack Blame
hadn't AIDED any too glad to meet Lin
da. It wasn't that he was being high
hat. He had acted sort of flustered
and ashamed. Linda couldn't under
stand him at all.
"Tm sure you know my son Bill
and my daughter Merry" Mr.. Avon
Blaine had said. Well, he could be
sure she knew Merry, because he had
introduced them before - under some
what strained circumstances in the
lunchroom, ages ago. AS for Bill
Well, DID she really know him ?
Linda wondered. How close she was
to being answered, Linda didn't know.
All she knew, for sure, was that
she had never in her life felt like quite
such a total fool as she did the mo-
moment she confronted the Blaines
in family group.
10 hic fofh-
er's deception, as Mr.. Avon was par
ty to Linda's deception of Bill? No.
Linda, decided, noticing that Bill was,
if anything, more surprised than Lin
da at their meeting in his own home.
Through dinner they had just chat
ted; pleasantries, small talk, about
Linda's vacation at the Blaine estate
at Lake Tahoe. But after dinner they
got down to cases.
Mr.. Blaine, ST., opened the sub
ject, as they gathered close together
in the library over their after-dinner
liquors.
"About the fight we have on our
hands-shall 1 tell them, Linda, or
will your" Mr.. Blaine began.
"Fight?" Merry chimed in. 81 love
a good scrap! Lead me to it."
"What fight is that, dad?" Bill
wanted to know.
Only Jack Blaine, of the entire
group, was silent.
At Linda's nod, Mr.. Blaine went on.
"Just this: The Mortons, the grand
parents of Linda's son, are trying to
take her boy away from her. They've
filed guardianship petition, charging
Linda is unfit to keep him."
"UNFIT!" 1t was Merry. 'Linda,
how AWFULw
Merry's arm, flung about Linda's
shoulder, drew the other girl to her
in a comforting gesture.
"Why, you poor kidd" Merry said
warmly, "Unfit! Well show them
who's unfit"
"Atta girl, Merry!" her father cheer
ed. st know we could count on YOU"
'Dad'l get the best attorneys mon
ey can buy" Merry went on.
eyes," Mr.. Blaine interrupted. $50
long as it's all in the family, we've
got the best attorney right here, and
we won't have to buy {. :"
Jack Blaine leaned forward in his
chair at the outside of the group.
"YOu mean me, dad," he said, ''and
you've put me on the spot. There's
nothing I'd rather do than help Lin
.da. Matter of fact, I've been asked
to help her fight this case by some
one well, by someone else. But
you'll have to count me out"
There was a pause. When someone
finally spoke, it was Mr.. Blaine, and
he was frowning.
"Why, SOM" he said.
Because the Bradley Mortons are
Lawson's clients-and Pm on the 9TH
er SIDE"
"Lawson!" Pop Blaine fairly snort
ed the word. you're not his office
boy any longer. You're your own
boss, son, in your own Offiee-as of
tomorrow morning."
"Sorry, dad," Jack sounded as tho
he meant it. 'I'm in this case now
and Pm giong to- stick with it"
'Then, by Harry, we'll fight YOU
too" Blaine, ST., was thoroughly "a
reused now. eff we have to, We'll
fight you, son, and give you lick
ingw
"Whoa, now! Wait minute, you
hotheads."
1t was Bill. Linda had wondered
when Bill was giong to speak his