Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-06-21
CHAPTER Is

cago. But checking up on the accur-
acy of her suspicious was no simple
matter. In spite of several sly at
tempts, Cherry found herself still fac
ing blank wall of uncertainty.
Griff had been gone a week when
the wire came. The whole crowd had
been swimming, Pat and Cherry and
Richie Beresford still sprawled on the
sandy beach, when a servant came
down with the yellow envelope and
handed it to Pat. She slid a rosy
nailed finger under the flap, extracted
the message and, having perused it,
stuffed it into the pocket of her beach
coat.
She announced casually, cts from
Griff. He'll be back Monday, day
after tomorrow"
Cherry bit back the questions that
crowded her lips. It wouldn't do any
good to ask them.
But she was grateful when Richie
demanded, whats the lug mean,
walking out on us like he did,"
"Oh, it was business" Pats tone
was light.
Richie buried his head in his arms.
His voice came slightly muffled,
fraught with cynical disbelief. 4 can
imagine the kind of business !"
That night, when the crowd piled
into cars for the trip to town, Cherry
pleaded headache and went to her
room. Not until all sounds of the
noisy departure had died away, not
until the house was empty but for
Cherry and the servants, did she open
her door and slip quietly down the
hall. She snapped on the light in
Pats room and made her way straight
to the closet, her rather thin-lpped
mouth set grimly. AS she had ex-
pected, the crumpled telegram was
still in the pocket Of Pats beach
coat. Without the slightest qualm of
guilt, Cherry read it.
The message was brief. Having a
fine time stop Be back Monday stop
Love Griff."
But it wasn't the message itself
that Cherry was interested in. The
wire had been sent from Chicago.
With a bitter smile Of satisfaction
curving her lips and desolation in her
heart, she put the paper back where
she had found it. And, turning off
the light, made her way quietly down
the hall to her own room. Long be-
fore she fell asleep Cherry had her
plan of campaign all mapped out
Brent glanced up from a ledger in
which he was making entries the fol-
lowing morning to perceive a slim
blonde girl in riding togs standing in
the doorway of his little office. She
smiled and her face was vaguely IA
miliar, but he couldn't for the life
of him remember where he had en-
countered her before. He got slowly
to his feet.
The girl said reproachfully, you've
forgotten me, / see. Pm Cherry
Blaine, friend of Griff Morgan's.
We met in town one afternoon, re-
member?'
Brent did remember He apologize
ed, grinning, "I'm sorry. OF course,
we've met. But Pm dub at names"
"It doesn't matter. "Cherry's smile
was as brightly insincere as a paint
ed mask. She said, 81 happened to
be riding past and thought I'd stop
and find out when March is coming
back" She made it sound as though
they were the best of friends, she and
March.
middle of the week, according to
her last letter. She'll let me know
the exact date later"
Cherry said, "Oh," thoughtfully.
And then she said, her gaze wide and
guileless, 81 thought perhaps she
might be flying back with Griff. But
he's coming tomorrow"
The silence stretched out. Finally
Brent asked, "Griff is in Chicago,
too?"
His words were carefully controlled,
almost expressionless, but something
queer was happening to his eyes, his
mouth.
Cherry said, ooh, yes. He went
the same day March did. You-you
knew, didn't you?" When he said
nothing she hurried on, with a nice
stimulation of innocent remorse, "I'm
sorry if I've spoken out of turn. But
she phoned him the morning she left
and they arranged everything. Nat
urally II had no idea there was any
thing secret about it."
Despite the fact that it was her
Vaccinations which had hroIl0ht IL