The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-28
CHAPTER

and Ronald faced each other in a
small restaurant where fat candles
were melting in round holders and
the food was too heavy for a sum-
mer night. The place was off the
beaten track. That was why they
had chosen it.
They had a great deal to say to
each other, Linda realized, looking
at the familiar face across the ia
BILE. near, dear, and yet so suddenly
a stranger.
She played with a fruit cup that
she didn't want, and waited Tor
the swing musician who, after all
was Ronnie, who had a way with a
horn, to speak.
He pushed the fruit cup away
and gathered her restless hands IN
his.
Linda, precious, if we are going
on together there are some things
that we must share, must talk
over. 1t won't help Parrish for you
to become involved again in the
case. If your evidence is needed
use it, but wait. Maybe you won't
have to speak. I'm going along on
the tour Linda, after all.
'They just gave me a raise and
a better billing and permission to
marry. It's what I want. You know
how I've ALWAYS wanted to play
my horn!'
The blue eyes begged her to IN
derstand and the pressure on her
hands deepened.
Eyes, 1 know, Ronnie," she an
swered.
'And you'll wait, Linda love?'
Very gently she withdrew her
hands. "Ronnie, an old man and
woman are frightened to death be-
cause of all of this. If Mr.. Parrish
is guilty, then he'll be discovered.
But he isn't. And I can help him
now. l can save several weeks OF
torment. Oh, Ronnie, don't you
see?"
A little wind had sprung up in
the street outside. making the can-
dies flicker. The waiter took away
the untouched fruit cups and then
brought something in a casserole,
but neither one looked at it.
LINDA, I'm asking you to let me
decide this!"
mo, Ronnie. I've a duty to do
and I'm doing it."
He looked at her as though he
had never seer her before. Sarah
said you were-hard."
Sarah? You talked me over
with her? And maybe she advised
this?" She put down her napkin.
"I guess our ways divide right
here, Ronnie. We-don't follow the
same rules any mor We're sort
of strangers" She hesitated, wait
ing for him to say something. to
draw her back to her seat or follow
her. but when he did nothing she
tossed her amber curls higher.
"Good-goodby, Ronnie." 1t was
just a whisper.
And then she was gone. She be-
gan to run. Once she thought eager
steps were sounding behind her,
but she did not look back. Once she
thought someone called her name,
but she told herself that it was be-
cause she wanted to hear it called.
Well, something was over AT
the immensely of it, her knees felt
weak. All of her life, since she was
eight, she had been journeying to
meet Ronnie. Every signpost led
to him.
Now what should she do since
he was gone? What did h e
women do? Make masks for their
faces and wear them day long and
night long?
Because Linda didn't know the
answers to her questions she began
to walk. She felt curiously empty.
She had been walking blocks be-
fore she realized that there was a
lightness to the emptiness. She was
lost and lonely and tomorrow she
would wake up and her h e
would do the curious things that
stories said hearts did when they
were suffering, but tonight, for a
little space of time, she felt-re-
lieved.
She was ashamed of herself be-
Bella L~ANAN-COURT RE
Ena,nIel a., A.4..'