Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-10-13
CHAPTER Is

"There's Mr.. Avon," she said. "He'd
want to help Linda. She's at his
place in the mountains now. Maybe
he'd loan her the money for law
yer
"Who is Mr.. Avon?" Jack Blaine
was looking at Janice now, intentiy.
"Why, he's the man Linda :" jan
ice, realizing what she had said; glad
" would have bitten off her tongue II
that would have recalled the words.
"Jack Blaine" she gasped, eyes wide,
"you wouldn't turn an innocent thing
like that into something bad, just to
you WOULDN'T"
John Ralston Blaine, Jr. c"Mr.
Avon's" second son-unknown to him)
didn't say whether he would or
would not.
When Linda returned to San Fran
cisco with Mickey after the glorious
week of rest, fresh air and sunshine
in the mountains, the worst worry on
her mind was what to tell Mr.. Avon.
For Linda, a poor driver at best,
had backed his expensive car into
redwood tree, inflicting costly damage
to the rear trunk and one fender. AS
she made up her mind to insist that
she pay the repair bill, she had wor-
ried aloud on the drive back from
Boulder Creek.
Don't worry, mummy" Mickey
had soothed. "Steve en- fix it. Steve
en- fix anything"
eyes, DEAR" Linda had agreed,
"when Steve's hands are all well a.
gain"
The indications that Steve's hands
particularly the all-important right
hand-would be all right again, were
favorable. But, Of course, they
wouldn't know for sure for several
weeks, until the casts and bandages
could be removed.
AS Linda pulled to a stop at the
curb in front Of her home, she noticed
that man was standing on the front
steps, apparently waiting for someone.
Because she did not know that the
stranger was waiting for her, she
didn't give his presence a second
thought.
He was a stranger to Linda, but
would not have been stranger to
Janice and 10, who would have recog-
nized him as the "ghost" of Titan
Towers lobby.
AS Linda and Mickey started to-
ward the steps, the stranger approach
ed them and asked:
"Mrs. Linda Morton?"
eyes," Linda's answer was itself
a question.
By way of answer, the man in black
showed into Linda's hand a folded
paper, very formal and legal appear
ing. Her eyes, resting on the title
on the outside of the document, read:
"In and for the Superior Court of
"In City and County of etc., etc.
"In the matter of the Guardian
ship of Bradley Michael Morton II,
a minor,
Bradley M. Morton and Mrs. I'M
eOgene Hart Morton, petitioners;
"Mrs. Linda Walsh Morton, also
known as Mrs. Michael Morton, re-
spOndent
When Linda's eyes dazedly left the
paper in her hand and went back to
the man-in-black, she saw that he
was copying, in black book the Ii
-cense number of Mr.. Avon's car.
Later, when she was inside the
house, Linda flung herself on the
studio couch and clasped Mickey to
her, as though real hands, not for
NAL legal document, were trying to
snatch him away.
Mickey, little understanding, strug-
gled to free himself from the tight
grip.
"What's the matter mommy?" he
asked. "Why you grab me?"
mickey, darling" Linda said.
Someone :. . someone you don't
know :. wants to take Mickey away
from Mother"
mickey doesn't wanta go 'wayw
"Sweet, you won't have to; they'll
take you away over my dead bOdyw
Then Linda, despite herself, laugh
ed.
"No, darling" she said. Mothers
very much alive-alive enough to
fight for her boy!"
Then, later when the doorbell rang,
Linda, fearful lest the Morton's money
and power already had dispatched
Juvenile authorities for her boy, lock-