Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-04-10
CHAPTER FORTY-rIVE

AS Iona struggled back to con-
seriousness again after fainting at
the news that Jim was cleared, it
seemed to herr that everybody in
the world had crowded into that
tiny room at the police station.
Opening her eyes, she found her.
self sitting in big easy chair with
Jim bending over her anXiously.
Behind him what seemed like a sea
of faces pressed forward, laughing
and excited. Two more policemen
In uniform had bobbed up from
nowhere. Mrs. Morriss was hover
ing over her, stroking her cold
hands, and Dinah, in her wheel
chair, was being helped across the
doorway.
II. thought I'd meyer get here"
Dinah was. babbling. Her blue. eyes
were shining brighter than Iona
had ever seen them, and her hair
curled about her head like a golden
halo. 1.-THE reporters told me the
news as soon as they discovered
that you had managed to run away
from them, and I came right after
you. Isn't it wonderful? Oh,
Jim, I'm so glad!"
She was bubbling over. Behind
her crowded Ellis Langforth and
his reporter friends, grinning and
looking as important as if they,
personally, had managed the whole
thing. The desk sergeant re-
ceived them, still looking surprised,
his round eyes going to Iona over
and over again as if she were some
thing rare.
"She never knew a thing" he
still was marveling to anyone who
would listen. Imagine that! She
come Dustin in here, all excited,
with her eyes poppin' out, and
wanted to know was he still
alive"
Jim's eyes as he bent over her
were tender, and the strained, I'M
happy look that had clouded them
for so long had vanished. He was
smiling, too, his appealing half
smile, that always brought to her
mind the thought Of Tiny.
Jim" His name rose to her lips
In a choked whisper as she thought
of Tiny.
"Jim!" His name rose to her lips
In choked whisper as she chung to
him feeling the need for re-assur.
ance.
cts all over, GIRL" he told her.
his voice holding the husky drawl
she had missed SO much when he
was Ill. mo more worries for u.s."
Are you sure, jim? 2" She was
still incredulous, still afraid to be-
iieve. It was as if the strain had
been too tense to allow her to
throw it off in a moment like this.
There MUST be some catch to it,
her tired mind was telling her. It
couldn't be true! This was too good
to be happening to her. She was
made for misfortune. She was
afraid Of this glimpse Of heaven.
"You wouldnt-fool me, Jim 2" she
begged. s5st u
"Why, girl OF course it's true!"
He laughed his old ringing laugh.
TITS all over, I tell you. We can
forget it. We can be a regular fam
lily now. No more hiding and dodg-
ing. It's great"
"You mean we can stay here in
Brighton, now?" Her mind was
slowly taking hold in spite of her
fears. 1--WE can stay here with
Dinah and Mrs. Morriss, and all our
friends? We don't have to
leave?" Il
1--WE can stay here forever If you
feel like it."
"Oh, JIM" She could say no more,
but could only cling to him.. Stoop-
ing suddenly lower, he gathered
her into his arms and kissed her.
There was happiness in that kiss;
relief, too, and understanding. It
made the staggering happenings of
the last hour seem real to her for
the first time, and she held him
close while she kissed him back,