Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-10-13

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attorney :. :"
Linda" Steve said. "You can.
Aunt Cynthia's money will help you.
I know there's no place she'd rather
have it CO."
"No, I couldn't"
Steve was looking straight into her
eyes, searchingly-tenderly.
"What about getting married, Lin
da?" he asked, very quietly.
Linda 50 lost in the forest she
couldn't see the stout, sheltering oak
at her side said:
"I'm not sure he wants to marry
me. now-not with Mickey :"
Steve said nothing. Linda, look
ing back to him after moment, miss
ed the crushed look Of utter hurt
which crossed his face.
"But about Aunt Cynthia's money"
she continued, 81 want to see her to
tell her how sweet :"
"Aunt Cynthia" Steve said simply,
"died last Monday"
And his voice said that something
else-within Steve Hubbard-had died
in the last minute.
4
Linda, entering the lobby of Titan
Tower for her first day of work after
the weeks respite at Mr.. Avon's
mountain cabin, passed the marble
bench and saw a shade.
It wasn't the man-in-black whom
Janice and 10 had noticed there, the
"Specter Of Titan Tower" who had
served Linda with the guardianship
papers. It was a real specter =. l..
the shade of benevolent, kindly little
old lady-a person who had "seen"
with sightless eyes more life and
drama in this vertical city than any of
it's everyday tenants.
So Aunt Cynthia was dead.
She wouldn't ever seem dead-real-
ly-to Linda. Not Aunt Cynthia, who
had seen life and laughter and happi-
ness tears and tragedy in Titan Tow
err; had seen, despite her blindness,
scene which people with two good
eyes had missed because it was too
obvious.
Linda, with deep ache in her heart
performed her duties in DR.. Thorpe's
office as though there were nothing
to worry about. Her employer COM
mended her for the good that the
weeks rest had done.
"Well," DR.. Thorpe said. "Now you
seem your old self again, Linda. That
rest was just what the doctor ordered.
Just one thing more-a big smile
would help i. -"
Linda's face shortened in made
to-order smile she didn't feel.
She underwent an anxious few min
utes at the lunch counter that noon,
worrying for fear Mr.. Avon wouldn't
show up-until he appeared, smiling
and friendly as usual.
"Well, young lady," he beamed.
"You look like living advertisement
for a week at Avon's Acres. How did
it go?"
Get ready for a shock" Linda
said. 81 wrecked your carl"
"Hmm :" Mr.. Avon's eyebrows
went up. Nothing trivial, hope. I
never did like that car; too big and
pretentious."
That's the way Linda had known
Mr.. Avon would take it-no Tutoring
or lectures.
"Well, just some dents in the trunk
and fenders," she said. II want you
to let me pay for the repairs"
"Don't give it another thought, my
DEAR" he said. cts completely in
sured. Won't cost us cent. Let's
forget about the carlow about you?
No bad dents, hope to the heart,
I mean."
And then Linda told him-every-
thing.
About the Bradley Mortons and
their move to gain custody Of Mickey,
using Linda's romance with Bill Blaine
and her innocent association with Mr..
Avon, himself, as proof that Linda
was an unfit" parent.
When she got to the part of Steve
Hubbard's offer of aid, from Aunt
Cynthia's funds, and his suggestion
that Linda get married, Pop Blaine
said:
He said, What about getting mar
ried, Linda?'
care you sure, child" Mr.. Avon OBJ
served, very earnestly, "that your
Steve wasn't speaking for himself?"
"You mean - Linda's mouth