Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-06-25
(! &C. e
rmNORA HDRYc rEAnHss cToN& y
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

second floor Of the old mansion was
a room Is by 80 feet in dimcn-
sions, high ceilingcd, iiArd with
book cases on two sides and fur
nishcd with heavy chairs, rockers,
and Mr.. Mcrriiield's huge ma
hOgany desk. The desk was before
the fireplace, and even though this
Was late spring the butler had
stirred up little blaze just because
it was customary, and because all
old man is likely to feel any slight
chill in the air after shutdown. Two
knots glimmered in the fireplace
now, throwing shadows that danced
about the big room in ghostly pa
raGc.
A tall bookcase jutted out from
one end of the wide mantle, reach
ing the desk for convenience and
forming 4 dark setback nook in
one corner of the big room. There
Mr.. Merrifleld had caused to be
placed a long couch, and there he
frequently lay down for cat maps,
resting Il quarter-hour, half hour.
or an hour as need be, to restore
his surprising energies. A heavy
afghan thrown there served to
cover his feet and legs on such oc-
casions.
Now, on this night Of the play and
the ball, he discovered after dinner
that he was suddenly fatigued. He
had Eecn as excited as one of the
youngsters about the doings in his
home. He had three friends in to
dinner, and so did deal OF talking.
He knew that on this occasion he
wanted to stay up past midnight
So he wisely decided to lie down
a bit beforehand. He babe his
friends make themselves at home
on the front porch below, While he
slipped off upstairs to the old
couch in the private nook he loved
so we'll.
"I have taken the liberty, Miss
Gayle, tC bring in two assistants
this evening"" the maid Maudie
said, While helping Gayle dress.
you understand? We don't want
it to happen again"
ooh, yes, . Mrs.-Maudie! I DO
hope nothing happens to mar this
party. Any thievery could simply
ruin"
Don't worry now. Well be on
guard. Please just relax and enjoy
yourself and let us do any worry
ing for you Mrs. Holmquist, called
Maudie, was a kindly soul, Gayle
knew. Gayle smiled her thanks.
1t wasn't easy to relax, though.
ANY party has a mass of last
second details. Any theater is a
madhouse on opening night. With
a play and party planned for the
same evening, and with herself act
ing in one and being hostess at
the other, Gayle Dixon was fairly
flying with energy and nerves.
Not that she didn't love it. She
did. She enjoyed the excitement be-
cause she was young. Mrs. Holm
quist had helped to make her even
more beautiful than usual, i'll her
white net evening gown. Her straw
cOlored hair was curled perfectly,
her cheeks pink from excitement
rather than from rouge. Bill, SINH
larry busy, paused long enough to
admire her when She came down.
stairs at seven.
Christopher" lie breathed,
2. staring. a,''.7@z g ,- r.
"Something?" she pretended not
to understand.
yes! Plenty!"
She pirouetted for him, like a
model; then smiled and flickered
her eyelidS.
stop it," he commanded. "a
man can stand just so much. I may
yet grab you by the hair and rush
off to some mountain cave"
"Oh, how roman-tic!" she gushed,
then ran on, laughing.
The two understood each other,
in part at least. Bill had u moment |
of detection there as he watched |
her go-Bill who had come to wor-
ship her, but who could not speak |
OF his lovet He wondered why he
let promises and pride and loyalty |
and all those things interfere. He
had mentioned a caveman-why in |
the devil didn't he do what any sem
sible cave man would have done, |
take her and damn the cost? But |
he shook his head. He had been
hemmed in and tied by finer. civil !