The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-26
CHAPTER

asked the elderly man to tell Linda
and Robert why he had not taken
the elevator downstairs on tn e
night of the fatal shooting, his
face paled a little, and his wife
raised a hand to her throat.
Women always put their hands
ia their threats when disturbed,
Linda remembered.
"It was nothing, nothing" the
man insisted. We're glad you folk
came and I'm happy you aren't
held in this, too, Miss Linda
Linda smiled. Not held in this?
Deep in her heart she knew thai
she was being followed and no clue
was left uncovered. More than
likely this old man was a blind
whom the police were using SO she
would feel free to come and go.
She knew that Robert shared her
apprehension from the way he
stepped toward her, took her ARM
smiled.
They rode down to the old red
brick house which held the two
apartments. Neither n spoke
much. Once Robert mentioned the
sunset and again he asked her II
she intended to work much longer.
She noticed a silly hat on a
woman's head and called his at
.antion to it. Did people use words,
futile, useless words to pass the
time when there was nothing, moth
ing, they could say to each other!
At her door Robert held out his
hand and smiled into her eyes. He
was so much taller than she was
as she looked up. His clasp was
warm and tight. Madly she wished
that he would kiss her again. Just
one kiss-to remember always. But
he didn't.
Instead, he said, "I'll send you a
postcard from Rio de Janiero or
the Andes" ,
I'll send you a postcard -. just
as Ronnie had said, "I'n call you
UP from Trieste or Hong Kong or
the Hoboken Ferry some n 6 MT
when I'm famous. But Ronnie
knew she loved him and Rob knew
he had no right to hope.
"Goodby, Rob, and good luck
she said, and entered the living
room.
Caroline was home. She o. a
new dress of soft, deep blue and
shiny black sandals. Her face was
sweet and warm and happy. Only
one thing could make a woman
like that, Linda reflected, as she
tossed her round hat on the long
reading table and sent her gloves,
in a ball, after it. Love!
You and Terry =" she began.
rs everything all right?"
Caroline sat down on the divan.
ITS heavenly! Darling, you could
be a bridesmaid, couldn't you-to-
night, l mean? You see, we have
the license. Terry was able to ar
range it alright and we'd like to
drive to Connecticut tonight. He's
going to have Rob stand up with
him. 1 imagine he's reached him
by now"
Then you've made up?" So
swiftly could loves ravages be re-
paired sometimes, Linda was think
ing. You're sure this is what you
want?"
Caroline's gaze was honest and
direct. Il know it is. Nina has
been trying to see him, literally
throwing herself at his feet, and he
doesn't want her at all. He could
have her-but he wants me-"
Pioneer women had started west
ward with their men, Linda unused,
willing to face the dangers of a
brave, new world. They had
dreamed of homes in an unknown
wilderness as they watched the
smoke blowing skyward from
campfires at night. But they had
spun their hopes in a rugged,
nomespun pattern. They had no
lear that a man would wander, for
all the wives who shared the west
ern land had come far with only
faith and one mans love to guide
hem.
Women like Caroline ran a big
ger risk, Linda thought on, as the
girls sweet, light voice confided in
her. There were silken, glamorous
women ready to lay pitfalls for a
dashing publicity man who had a
profile and a dash of wit. Caroline
Bella LANAN-COURT r
Eo11ndoI o. Al,