The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-09-15
CHAPTER Ix-Continued

CHAPTER IX-Continued
-
you'll see lots more with me-"
Clint promised. "This is bum one,
really" And he urged: Lets start
home. We can drive slowly and
be together without so many people
round. Unless you want to see the
rest of this?"
June-a little reluctantly-pro-
fessed a complete lack of interest in
the film; yet she looked back visit
fully as they went up the aisle.
Upon their arrival, she had not re-
moved her coat till they reached
their seats; but now in the lobby she
expected some word from him about
her new gown. When he said moth
ing, merely offered to help her into
her coat, she protested:
''You haven't noticed my dress.
Don't you think it's nice?"
Clint stood back to survey her.
chuckling. "Sure, grand!" he de-
clared. He came close to her again.
but what you wear doesn't make
any difference to me, june"
casa gave it to mel"
"Asa?" Clint echoed, frowning
family. "Why?"
She slipped her arms into the
sleeves of the coat he held. HE
told me to wear it to catch a young
mani" she confessed, laughing up
at him over her shoulder. He
knows about you and me-"
Clint chuckled with pleasure. ''It
will be my turn to buy pretty things
for you soon,' he said happily; and
her hand frightened on. his arm as
they went out to the car.
They drove slowly, Clint clinging
to this hour; and when they came
in front of the great sprawling house
at last, he stopped and turned off
the lights, and said urgently:
Lets sit here few minutes. You
don't have to 60 right in"
II must, soon," she urged, yet
made no move to leave.
They found no great need Of
words. They were snug in the car,
the windows raised against the rain.
There was a light in the rear part
of the Tame house; and June said,
with a ripple Of mirth in her tones:
"Uncle Justus is still asleep in
his chair. If no one wakes him up,
he may sleep there all night"
SIS that his room?" Clint asked,
surprised. 49,, ,sy
mo, he's in the kitchen.'' Her
tone was mirthful. "He likes to
warm his feet in the oven door,"
who's sitting up over there?" he
asked, nodding in the other direc-
ton.
.'Aunt EVE and Asa are staying
with Grandma Bowdon," she ex-
planned. "Rab had to 60 to Prov
idence."
They felt, rather than heard, a
low rumble of sound; and Clint said:
''Hullo, that was thunder. I didn't
see a fash"
81 did, out Of the corner Of my
eye," she told him. "Off through
the woods that way" She pointed
past the houses; and she said, and
he heard her voice shake: 1--WE had
a thunder-shower the night Mother
died. A terrible one. And she add
ed:
''Uncle Justus has turned out his
light. The thunder must have wax
ened him." Clint saw that the Tame
house was indeed dark now; and
then June cried, a sudden tension
in her tones: "Clint, lool!"
s'What?" he asked, surprised; and
he stared past her.
There was a faint brightness, in the
shape Of rectangle, against the
front of the Hurder house. The
brightness assumed color; and Clint
reached across the girl to lower the
window so that he might see more
clearly. That rectangle identified it.
self as the open front door of the
house, outlined in red.
And suddenly this dull red became
bright; they saw the flicker Of
fame.
They scrambled out together; they
started to race across the lawn. As
they did so, car passed along the
road behind them, and Clint turned
back and shouted:
Hey, firel Ring in an alarmi"
He saw the driver dimly, saw the
mans head nod. Then he ran after
June toward the house, toward that
front door through which pillows
of smoke began to pour. He caught
her on the steps, caught her fast;
for she would have gone headlong
in. And she was crying: =
Grandpa! Grandmal''
When Clint held her, she swung
to him in terror, beseeching him.
They're in there. Clint. Oh, quick,
dearl" @