The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-24
THIRTY.ONE

where c,onald was, her vice was
so startled in it's fright that it did
not try to disguise the love when
Sarah bore for Ronald.
Until now Linda had believed
that Sarah had gone in gay pursuit
of him because She could not have
him. She had credited the girl
with rising audacity at first, ana
wistful resignation at the last.
But Sarah's voice was stripped
of all synthetic qualities now. The
man she loved was in danger ana
she wanted to help him. de might
love her, he might not. That DIG
not matter. All this Linda sensNo
Because she did, her voice was
gentle as she answered. "Ronnle
was taken to the police station.
Sarah. It's a CHASTITY mistake, but
everyone is being questioned, ana
it seems there was part Of an hour
when he wasn't at the theater this
evening. He will get an aibl, OF
course. It's too impossible
It's too impossible that he should
have tried to kill me 50 he cou'd
have YOU that was what she
was thinking, and she knew tn
words were in Sarah's mind, too
Sarah spoke quickly. He has an
abb. He was with me. In the alley
back of the stage entrance, smok-
ing his pipe"
"Oh-h-h! That's good. Then you
can tell the police, can't your
"Of course. I'll 60 down right
away. l wonder why he didn't men
ton it. l made him come out. he
didn't want to-"
Sarah hung up, but Linda did
not go to bed. If Sarah really owed
Ronald, then she became an even
more formidable rival, for he
would sense the reality in her part
But Sarah was defenseless now.
She had let the bars down, as
dawn broke. She could not pretend
to make love a gay pursuit any
more.
Linda climbed into bed. The
rooom was cool now and the SKY
was growing light. She was wide
eyed. She wondered how soon Ron
aid would be able to call. Almost
in answer to her thoughts, her
telephone rang again, and he spoke
her name.
Dearest, may I come up?" he
asked. Il need some coffee"
"Of course you may. Hurry. BY
the way, has Sarah reached your"
mo, what did she want?"
She heard about everything and
said she could establish an alibi
for you"
'Sarah's all right. It's not need
ed, though. The doorman at the
theater and two of the saxophone
players did it. See you in a few
minutes"
Caroline sat up and rubbed her
eyes sleepily. "I'u get dressed
quickly" she said. Did I dream
that Terry left two notes-or did
he?"
He did," Linda answered, Slip
ping into a dark blue printed dress
that was frined with infinite mi
mute tuckings and putting on navy
sandals that matched. She might
as well get ready for the office
now, she decided.
By the time Ronald's taxicab
stopped in front of the old red
brick house she and Caroline had
a table set by the balcony win
dows. with crisp yellow cloth and
napkins, and cream colored plates
and cups and saucers.
There were yellow roses in a
low blue bowl and tall glasses of
iced orange juice at tn three
places. The odor of coffee and
frying bacon came from the kit
chenette and Caroline vas stirring
up pop-overs.
ITS nearly half-past SIX" Linda
said in amazement. II haven't had
any sleep at ALL"
Yet her eyes were as wide as
though she had gone to bed at
nine o'clock. Her body felt tired,
though. She knew she would be
glad when this day ended. She
dreaded, too, to enter the office
and sit down at the desk where
Clarabell had been shot.
No one had been able to offer
any clues as to the gun which had
killed the girl. One bullet was
lodged in her chest, and the other
E L LANAN-COURT R