The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-03
HAPTE

Due ACkeIIlldll oIOOQ az oAS SH
trance to Linda's apar' ent. In
one hand she carried a travelling
bag. It was a bag that once had
been good, but the years had sub
dued it's gloss, had worn the edges
away, and creased the leather.
May 1 come in?" Mis- Acker-
man asked, and Linda opened the
door, cycling her visitor in wonder
ment. "Are you alone?"
Linda nodded again, and pulled
the chains in the round lamp on
the low reading table, in the lamps
on the desk and by the divan.
'Is there another room besides
the kitchenette to this placer" Miss
Alderman asked.
"Only the bathroom" Linda an
swered, puzzled. Was the woman
moving in with her? Was she pen
niless and did she think that this
girl whom the police Lelieved was
the planned target for the assis-
sins bullet, should take care OF
her?
Quickly Linda planned to sum-
mon Robert. He would know what
to do. He always knew what to do.
Miss Alderman did not give Lin
da a chance to run up the stairs
to Roberts rooms. Later that eve
ming Linda was to know that 1t
would not have helped # she had.
Robert would not have be there.
The unexpected visitor said,
May 1 call the police? And l
would like to have Mr.. Stafford,
Miss Markiey, MIR. Bagley and the
district attorney or someone from
his office here, too, please"
Linda gaZed at the woman IN
establishment. You mean to have
them come here?"
Eyes, if you don't mind"
wouldn't it be better to go to po-
lice headquarters?"
The woman shook her head. mo,
I want to stay here. Grant me this,
won't your"
So, in the end, the people were
assembled. The police sent some
men and a young assistant from
the district attorneys office came,
too.
MAY I ask R o b t Barton?"
Linda said, while they were wait
ing.
Barton? Oh, you mean the man
who came out with you? The n
that Nina imagined she loved? The
one back Of everything!"
Back of everything? He never
cared for Nina and it was such
a foolish notion she had, too. But
you knew her well. I'm sorry I
talked about her. But may I ask
him to come DOWN."
IF you like"
'I'll be back in a minute" Linda
rang the bell at pobert's door and
then knocked with slim knuckles
against the heavy oak eurface. But
there was no answer. Just the re-
v~erberations of sound that echoed
in an empty apartment.
"She came back to her o W n
apartment to wait the coming of
the people.
Sue Alderman vas not nervous.
She sat quietly in a soft, deep
chair. She lighted one cigaret after
the other, smoking a little, throw
ing the cigaret away.
The members Of the police de-
partment came first. They asked
Miss Alderman if she had an an
nouncement to make, but she only
shook her head. mot yet" she
said.
When Ronald came with Sarah,
Linda noted the deeply S h i min 6
light in the girls eyes. There was
serenity in them, too, tonight, in
stead of a restless eagerness. All,
love could do many things when it
came happily. For a fraction of a
second, so brief that it almost did
not happen, Linda felt an old nos
talgia for moments that were gone
forever.
Then she was shaking hands with
Sarah and Ronald, bidding them
welcome, seating them together
on the long divan, for they belong
ed together now.
She heard steps on the stair
way and listened. They sounded as
though they were made from Rob-
ert's long stride, so she went to
the door on a pretense and looked
Bella LANAN-COURT RE