The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-04-17
Miss
SOMEBODY
CHAPTER NINETEEN

AAAElA IN - ~ + a A4A4aN
The elevator in Stephens office
building swooped upward. stopping
at the floors with a sickening
lurch Hilda's stomach swooped
with Il but failed 10 make the
stops She gritted her teeth and
held on
Days and nights Of anguish. too
much coffee. too little food. she
was ready to break. She found
Steve's number on door and we3
10 a girl seated al a switchboard.
May see Mr.. Carhart. please
she asked with a forced smile. Her
face felt stiff and drawn.
Have you an appointment ,"
Faint Relief
No, but think he'll see me IL
you tell him my name" She was
aware of faint relief. Steve was
there He would help her. Know
ing he was somewhere behind
closed doors made her feel less
alone, less desolate.
The girl shook her head. Hes
very busy. Better make an APP
pointment."
Tears seemed always to be wait.
ing They filled Hilda's eyes.
Il must see him. she said in
tense little voice. I've come from
Chicago and II must see him.
swallowing over the lump in her
throat.
The girl looked at her curiously.
"Tll see" she said doubtfully.
Your name. please ."
"Hildegsrde Gregson.r looking
around for a chair Her knees
were so very weak.
The girl shot a plug into the
switchboard Apologetically she
repeated Hildas name. Almost i'm
mediately a door swung open and
Steve rushed out. both hands out
stretched. Hilda got weakly TO
her feet.
"Hilda-bless your hearts this
surprise or is this a surprise ~
He got no further The smile was
erased from his face. leaving it
anxious. Are you i'll Is some
thing wrong" He had taken her
arm and was guiding her into a
smaller office.
If I could sit down, Steve-and
have glass of water 1t was
like the day at the church. Thick
black fog closing in on her, a
roaring in her ears.
sympathy
He helped her into a chair and
brought a little paper cup of ice
water She gulped it down and
rested her head on the back of her
hand. Steve bent over her.
Better now"
"Yes-all right now. You said
if things went wrong. Steve"
of course. Has something hap
pened? Tell me" And turning to a
stenographer, I'm not to be dis
turbed." The girl left the room
and he drew chair close to Hilda.
as it something about Keith ?"
She nodded, trying to steady her
quivering lips. He left me, Steve.
The day we were to be married.
We went to the church. the minis
ter was there. the organ made
thick. dreadful music =" She
stopped. unable to go on.
TRY to tell me, Hilda."
Keith said he had the BRIDE
froom filters. or something like
that He said he'd be back in a
minute. We waited and waited.
He didn't come back"
Steve made an exclamation un-
der his breath The exclamation
was not complimentary to his
brother Keith.
Il haven't seen him since" she
ended forlornly. her heavy. hopeful
eyes on his face.
Steve groaned. you poor little
kid he said.
The sympathy was too much for
Hilda. She cried as if her heart
would break. Steve held her hand
close between both his After a
while she wiped her eyes and blew
her nose, trying to laugh.
I'm getting to be a cry baby"
she told him shakily. Il haven't
slept much nor eaten much since
it happened And l guess I've
thought too much" A smile wa
vered, the one dimple came and
went.
New Confidence
Steve got up and pulled her 70
her feet. "All right. I'm the doc
tor from here on. First well 20
out for breakfast. You'll eat bacon
and eggs and mullins and maybe
pancakes And while you're eat
ing We'll have the story.
"Afterward I'll take you to a
hotel where you'll sleep all day.
At dinner time III stop around and
see that you eat again"
Hilda went with him. walking
close to his side, gaining conf
dence from mis- presence.
She felt cared for and protected.
The icy fingers around her heart
relaxed their grip. She ate her
breakfast and color came back into
her cheeks and lips.
Now" Steve said when she was
partially fortified. Let's have it
Il think it was my fault" she
began.
Your fault-my eye He was
unnecessarily irate.
Well. you see told Keith ! was
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