The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-14
FORTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Billie Anne's words seemed to
linger in the air, to pose them
selves above the table as she I'm
ished speaking:
MAYBE I'm prying, but Rob-
bert's crazy about you and I've a
bunch you like the lad. If you do
well, if you do, why don't you DO
something about it," Billie Anne
had said.
"What should I do?" Linda ask
ed, but her eyes were soft green
lanterns and her white face was
flushed and eager.
~"You might let him know you
came out to the bridge. That would
help. Or you could be sorry he's
going away. Anyway, there he is
in the door. It's up to you now"
Linda turned. Robert was COM
ing. He was SO tall, SO strong look
ing, SO carelessly gay in spite OF
the mud-spattered clothes he wore.
She felt again the lift Of wings, the
march of music she had sensed
that first night he had come to
her apartment.
She saw the sudden gladness in
his eyes when he saw her.
LINDA! What are you doing on
this train?"
Her voice did not waver and her
eyes did not falter as thu met his.
Il. came up last night-early morn
ing, rather-because l heard you
were in danger"
He sat down, and Billie Anne
slipped away. He reached across
the table and took Linda's hands in
his. "You cared enough to Gomez
"Of c~oursef"
He studied her face, not believ-
ing. "But-"
= Because she was close to tears,
she tried to laugh. 1--we been so
dumb, Rob. The night you passed
me on the steps I was going with
Ronald to keep Sarah from marry
ing somebody else to spite him."
Whatever Robert was about to
say she did not know, for the train,
which had slid into the tunneled
approach to the station, had reach
ed its destination and newspaper
men were coming on board.
Robert spoke in a low voice. I
don't want to get you into all of
this. Can you duck out the other
exit? I'll see you at seven tonight.
And I might be early!"
Then he was gone and she was
finding her way back to her chair,
collecting the wilted hat, gloves
and overnight bag. She took a cab
to the club, managed a quick show
er, and put on her rose dress and
the cartwheel hat, changed her
compact, lipstick, money and odds
and ends from the black bag to a
large white one, and found white
sandals and gloves to match.
Riding to work on a crosstoWn
bus she wondered if the other pas
sengers heard music in the air,
too. Maybe they didn't. If they did
surely there would be stars in their
eyes and laughter on their lips.
The morning went rapidly. Some
one from the district attorneys
office came to see her and tell her
she would be wanted as a witness
the next week.
but I may not be here" she
answered before she thought.
I'D better report the matter to
the Chief" the man said. BY the
way, old man Parrish t,ok the ele-
vator down to get himself some
drops for his heart that night.
Didn't want anyone to know for
fear he'd lose his job, so he kept
still. Nice of young Barton to find
him a good job where his wife
could be on hand, too"
Where is the job?" Linda ask
ed, and the music in her heart
grew a little gayer.
"At his club, l believe. Now that
the murderer has confe -sed, the
case will be relatively easy. It's
more or less a matter of proving
that Miss Nevins was unbalanced
at the time OF the shooting"
The afternoon went more slowly
han the morning had done, and at
five o'clock Linda closed her desk,
put on her hat, and left the office.
She vas out on the street before
she remembered that Robert did
not know that she had moved. He
would go down to the old apart
Bella LANAN-COURT R
E~,1ol>I ~ A-l-