Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-03-29
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

WHEN Iona hurried into the
hospital, frightened by the sight of
"a police car parked outside the en-
trance, she found Jim's door open
for the first time since he had been
hurt. Through it the bed light
cleaned cheerily and beside jim.
leaning over the bed to talk to him,
was a neat figure in the blue of
a policeman's uniform. Another po-
liceman stood, cap in hand, just
inside the circle of light, and Iona S
hand went to her mouth, sitting
the cry that almost forced itself
through her lips.
It had come, then. She had been
right about Clark Martin, she
thought, in swift flash of contri-
ton. He had been only leading her
on, pretending to sympathize.
Strengthening her shoulders, she
marched resolutely into the room.
Nothing to do now but face things.
For Jims sake she'd face them
bravely, she promised, and then she
shrank back as Jim suddenly
smiled up at her from the bed-the
first real smile she had seen from
him in all these dreadful days.
MY WIFE" Jim told the police
men, proudly, and Iona felt herself
bowling, her lips too stiff to talk.
They've been asking about the
accident" Jim said to her then.
Its all a bit hay to me. Maybe
you could tell them more about
what really happened. You were
there and saw it ALL" He hesitated,
and Iona swallowed, trying to
speak.
"You mean you're investigat-
ing?" she managed to say, trying
to appear calm. Perhaps, after
all
"Just a routine matter, Mrs.
Bennett" the policeman assured
her. Perhaps It would be better if
you could stop in at the station
soon. Tomorrow, say! We'd like
your story" He made a polite mo-
ition to retire I'm afraid we've
rather tired your husband, here.
But you see, this bridge being a
city project, we must check up"
He was family apologize, and
Iona wondered if her face was too
white, her eyes too set.
I'll come in tomorrow first
thing" she promised, gladly. I'm
sure I'll be pleased to tell you any,
thing know that will help"
THAT will be fine. At ten tomor-
row, then. And we won't bother
the patient here any more. Goodby
and good luck!" He directed this
last to Jim as he donned his blue
cap and nodded to his companion
that he was ready to leave.
Iona listened, motionless, until
their footsteps = had died away
down the corridor. Then she flung
herself suddenly into Jim's arms
as he lay on the bed.
II was so afraid" she confessed.
brokenly. II thought they had come
for you. was so afraid, Jim! So
afraid :" Sobs choked her,
then, and she broke off. Unmindful
of his condition and the resolves
she had made not to distress him
until he was stronger, she chung to |
him convulsively. II thought they
had come for you, Jin," she insist |
ed again.
For long moment he held her
silently, the feel of his arms COM
forting her, stilling her fears.
$50 you-know, then," he said, |
in a dead-sounding voice that |
brought her back to realization of |
what she was doing to him.
eyes, I know, Jim," she said, |
gently. "You talked when YOU
We're sick, you know. And I would
have known, anyhow" Swiftly she
outlined to him what had happened, |
and his tense face frightened still
more. For a long minute, when
she had finished, he did not speak.
Then the hopelessness in his voice
cut her like a knife.
It's run again, then," he assert
ed, bitterly. Light out and leave
everything behind. And it will
never be different! Therell always
be "a detective somewhere. II
shouldn't have married you, girl.
was a fool! thought maybe !