The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-14
coprslcHT 1850
MA sEsvlcI lsc

When DR.. Logan came. he took
her into the book-lined study
downstairs and closed the door.
Your father is a very sick man,
my dear"
But what is it. ?"
Its an occlusion Of the coro-
nary artery"
That meant nothing TO her. as
he had probably known. Damage
has been done the heart-much
damage. grave damage. Few men.
II may speak plainly. survive
an attack of this sort. Your father
has fighting chance-if-"-he
made little tent of his hands and
looked at them with intense con-
centration IF another attack
does not occur"
The days became pattern. She
was with Daddy every minute that
the formidable Rourke would al
low. He had to sleep a great deal,
and most of the time he was under
medication. There was the long
rituals of his bath, his bed chang
ing, the many mysterious things
Rourke did with the door closed
against Linda. There were the
doctors visits, the careful detail
ing of how Daddy had or had not
slept. Mostly it was not. And there
were the silent moments when the
mast of cheerfulness slipped away
from Linda as she sat at his bed
side and wondered helplessly how
they could prevent another attack.
There was one thing she could
do: She could protect Daddy from
ever knowing that she no longer
loved George Cameron. A shock
like that would be too much for
him. He loved George as he might
have loved the son he never had.
As for George, now that the
first fright was over, he returned
to his laboratory and his beloved
experiments. Except for a few
minutes each day with her father,
he did not come to the house, for
he understood how busy and up
set she was. Nor did he refer to
the long distance telephone con-
versation when she had hung up
on him. Had he forgotten that?
She had been home five days
before George said, isn't it about
time you stepped outside this
house, Linda? I'd like to have you
alone for few minutes"
I'm afraid to leave Daddy"
"Of course 1 but"
isn't that Daddy's bell now?
Linda evaded.
Miss Rourke is paid to answer
his BELL" George said quietly.
Even trained nurses get some
time off" she snapped. Excuse
me. I'll see what he wants
The bell hadn't rung at all But
when she returned to the living
room, George was gone. That was
Friday night.
On Saturday morning, when she
opened her eyes she remembered
something sharply. Tomorrow! To-
morrow was Marcia Kings we'd
ding day, Linda's whole soul shud-
dered at the thought of Jimmy
Cooper, standing at Marcia's side,
repeating solemnly Il, James,
take thee, Marcia"
But as she dressed slowly, she
told herself that the wedding
would occur as scheduled, all right.
Jimmy had returned to his senses
by now. He owed Marcia a duty.
Those wild things he had said to
Linda Storm wouldn't stand up in
the cold light of day. Anyway.
she had told him plainly, there at
the airport, that it was goodby.
This has got to be the end"
she'd said.
Miss Rourke's voice broke into
her thoughts. "Postman brought
a letter for you"
Linda flung the door open.
Thank you" Her heart lurched.
Could ii be from Jimmy? But
when Miss Rourke put in her
hand Marciss round scribbling,
which had not changed since the
days when pieces of her English
themes Uttered their room at
school, stared up at her.
She tore the letter open swiftly.
you haven't written, Linda"
Marcia began. But I understand
how 1t must be with your father
so desperately i'll. I am writing to
tell you that you are not going to
be dished out Of acting as my maid
Of honor after all. You'll have
second chance. Because, darling,
there won't be a wedding this
] SUNDAY Tiparov u,as Suddpnly