The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-16
CHAPTER XvI-Continued.


Nat, pulling Skippy in an express
wagon, came up to the side OF the
car.
'Hellol" he said, his smile WIDEN
ing with recognition, displaying a
missing tooth. "I'm not Admiral
Byrd now that there isn't any snow"
"Of course not. How stupid of
me. l should have known. This is
my cousin, Miss Oliver, Nat, and
Skippy," said Gay.
Hello, Nat" Kate said. Hello,
Skippy."
Hello" Nat grinned again and
Skippy ducked his head.
SIS DR.. Houghton in now?" Gay
asked, feeling her heart leap and
plunge.
''No, he's not here now"
"You mean he isn't here at the
house?"
''He went away last week. Grand
father came home. He brought me
a whole fleet of boats"
Brought me a boat!" Skippy
piped up.
SIS your mother here, Nat?" Gay
asked.
"Aya, she's here. She'll be pleased
to see you, I expect. Did you come
all the way from New York? Course
I like boats better on account of my
fathers an officer in the Navy but
that's some swell car"
''Drive them around a couple of
blocks, will you, Kate" Gay opened
the door and stepped out. 81 want to
talk to their mother"
''Hop in, kids" Kate slipped over
under the wheel.
"Whoopee!" Nat shouted and
Skippy echoed his brothers enthusi-
asm, then ducked his head again.
The long tan roadster moved away
from the curb. Gay walked up the
steps of the house and sounded the
knocker. Mary Adams herself,
opened the door. Her brown face
twinkled with pleasure when she
recognized Gay.
''Come in," she said. "This is a
surprise"
The wide hallway was familiar,
though now there were peonies and
iris in the vases which in March
had held bitter-sweet and feathery
plumes of pine. Following Mary
through the living-room to the porch
which faced the lawn, she remem-
bered her last day here, the day
after John had brought her in from
his mothers home. They'd been so
distant, she and John, polite to each
other, unhappy, remote. Mary must
have noticed. Was she, too, remem-
bering the end Of Gays visit here?
If she remembered, she gave no
sign.
'Are you alone?" she asked. cts
marvellous to be able to use the
porch again. You don't appreciate
this weather unless you've spent
winter in Maine"
'My cousin is with me, Kate Oil
YER"
"Oh, I've heard John speak of
her." Mary darted up from her
chair. where is she? Why didn't
you bring her in?"
''She's taking Nat and Skippy for
a ride. Mary" Gay asked, ''where
is John?"
Mary curled herself into a wick
er chair. II don't know exactly" u. :,
she said. 4
elias he left here" Gays voice
faltered, ''for good, ! mean?"
Eyes. He was in Boston last
week." Mary glanced at Gay, then
down at her small brown hands.
IT know. He wrote me from
there"
'That there is chance of his get
ting in the research department con-
nected with the General Hospital?"
Mary asked eagerly. Father thinks
it's fairly certain. John made
splendid impression when he in
termed there"
''But since then," Gay persisted.
''He isn't in Boston now?"
"We've been forwarding mail to
his mothers. / re-addressed a let
ter from you this morning. I've
learned to know your handwriting
pretty well. l."
''This morning? A letter."
4CS. WHY AAoAJ faohS0 4u1CkA-
ly, in surprise.
''It was letter which shouldn't
have been written" Gay said. 1--WE
come to head it off or explain. Could
he be at his mothers in Rockland?"
81 don't know. Why don't you"
She paused, then said, sIf you don't
want to go there, or call, I'll call
for you.
''Will you? I don't There are
reasons. I'd like to see Debby but
I'm sure it would be better if you"
81 will" She rose, smiled at Gay
compassionately and went into the
house.
Gay sat on the porch looking out
across the. sunny lawn where peo-
MES bloomed along the fence and
the foliage of maple tree shaded
the children's .sand-box and swing.
&ke was only absently aware of the
SSneyes rested upon. Every
We in her body was
te Of suspense.