Evening star., 1940-04-12
CHAPTER XIV.


John Reid was standing by the
window looking out at the blank
windows of the building opposite.
When he saw Gail his expression,
already moody, darkened.
He said curtly, What do you
want?"
Gail closed the door behind her.
The conversation with Chris had
made her realize that all the keys
to this situation were in her own
hand. She had never felt calmer.
I'm leaving" she informed him
standing proudly beside his desk
"But before I 60 there is something
I'd like to say to you"
His thin lips tightened.
II don't care to discuss it. You've
played your cards very cleverly,
Miss Trenton"
Didn't Vince.
Gail did not vince at the sound
Of that unfamiliar name.
Don't think I am ashamed to
Use it. My father was one of the
finest men who ever lived. He
died because you didn't have enough
faith in him to wait until you
found out who really was the thief.
It's you, Mr.. Reid, who ought to beg
my forgiveness. And if I didn't
love Chris so much I wouldn't even
bother to speak to you"
He stared at her too astonished
to stop her as she continued.
"We're going to be married no
matter what you try to do to stop
US. But you're making a mistake
to let anything come between you
especially now when you've just
begun to understand each other.
"You seem to think this was all
. deliberate plan on my part to
get revenge. Well, I don't mind
telling you I did come to work at
the store to see If I could find out
who was really to blame.
Every one seemed to think that
the jewel robbery must be an in
side job. So knew that some one
must have put that emerald in my
fathers coat. I thought If I worked
here for awhile I might find out
who 1t was but I didn't have any
designs on your son.
"As matter of fact my mother
Is just as opposed to our marriage
as you are"
His unhappy eyes scanned her
face.
That's possible but it doesn't
interest me. If my son marries
you I never want to see him again" !"
"You WON'T" she assured him.
"Why can't you understand that
Chris is just as stubborn as you
are? That's one of the reasons
I stopped to see you. Chris is
leaving the store when I do. I've
tried to persuade him to wait awhile
but he insists that he can find
work somewhere else. I thought
perhaps II you would stop being
SO angry and talk to him :"
Cold Voice.
''Why should II" he interrupted.
His voice was cold but never had a
man appeared more miserable.
"Christopher is at liberty to sup
port himself In any fashion he
pleases. And now, Miss Trenton,
If you don't mind I'm very busy"
Chris was right" she thought.
"He doesn't dare admit even to him.
self that my father was innocent" :"
Aloud she said, "All right I'm going.
But I hoped If you could realize
how much unhappiness your at
titude is going to cause you might
act little differently"
To this he made no reply so she
left him. Yet in spite Of his harsh
ness Gail felt sorry for him.
He was lonely man and she sus-
pected that while he pretended not
to be hurt at his sons desertion he
was secretly torn with anxiety. He
had been in his Office all morning
with the door closed. He had not
even gone out for lunch. He was
suffering more than Anna who was
really the injured one. Because John
Reid could not bear to admit that
he had been to blame for the death
of man who had worked for him.
It was a responsibility he could
not face.
On Calls way out she was Joined
by Chris who accompanied her
through the store oblivious to stares.