The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-08
g Ledger
CHAPTER 0X-Continued

But it will be awful. Everything
Will be raked up again, my engage
ment to Wild! Oh, Mr.. Mortimer,
you can't do this to mel"
His eyes bored into her pleading
ones. Il suppose you know now
why Helen Austin ran. away?"
Lynn's eyes were wide as she lis
tened.
Charley Austin came to Palm
Beach to join his brother. She
thought he was in Europe. She saw
MIN that day you were at the beach,
driving his car in downtown West
Palm Beach. Poor girl She was
frantic. She had to leave you strand
ed. She thought he knew she was
there. She thought he might have
seen her. She didn't even dare send
for YOU"
Poor Mrs. Warren 1 mean
Austin :" Lynn covered her
face with her hands. She could see
the Helen Warren she knew with
her son in her arms as she read him
his bedtime story. She jumped up:
I'D hurt your case. They'd say
was just trying to get even with
what the Austins did to me! They'd
say I'd worked myself into their
confidence! Obi"
GIVE thought of all that, Miss
Morrow. You're our best witness.
Austin charges his wife ran away
with his best frieno. You know
where she was those first few
months after she left Austin's house.
You are the only person who does"
He went on and on. Every detail
OF Helen Austins struggle to keep
her son with her was recounted.
Mortimer's eyes were hard as
they watched Lynn. You're going
to do your duty, no matter how it
hurts. It's the only decent thing to
do. We can't let them get away
with it'll"
Lynn sat with her face covered.
She could see the fight stretching
on and on. How well she knew the
Austins would never stop until they
had Buddy! She flung out her hands:
Cant you make them make it all
up? Can't you use your influence to
get them together?"
How can I? He won't even talk
to me! He's bitter and under the in
f1uence of his family. If he had any
idea of where Mrs. Austin is, he'd
get that child if it took a company
of State troopers! don't trust them.
They'd agree to conciliate and
they'd double-cross. know them!"
Mortimer kept her there three
detailed statement of her life with
Mrs. Austin, five months she spent
with the woman and her son in the
trailer.
''It will be worth your while, Miss
Morrow"
Lynn dropped her pencil as he
spoke. What / am doing, I am
doing because must tell the truth!
Understand that. l don't want your
money! l couldn't take it." She
was furious at the implication in his
voice. "All this is terrible for me!
You must know that. But as you
say, can't do anything else!" Tears
trembled on her long lashes, and
her odd gold-fecked eyes were
swimming.
1t was terrible! There was no
doubt that she must remain loyal to
Helen Austin. She paced up and
down the room, trying to see her
way clear. She must see Chuck and
talk to him. That was the only
way. She mustl No matter what
Mr.. Mortimer said. Chuck would
listen to her. He had tol
Next morning Lynn dressed with
unusual care for work. She was
early, so eager and so nervous over
what the day might bring that she
could eat no breakfast
During the morning she managed
to find time to telephone Chuck, but
she could not reach him. What she
did not know was that every news
paper man in town was also trying
to find Charley Austin.
At noon she went to his office.
When she walked into the reception
room the clerk on duty Strengthened.
Lynn was a breath-taking sight in
her lovely clothes. She smiled and
asked for Mr.. Austin.
"Mr. Charles Jr.," she added. at
Is a personal call"
I'm sorry, but he's out Of the
city"
Lynn's face clouded. She must
reach him. Something in the clerks
eyes told her the truth.
MAY / leave a little note for
him?"
Certainly, wen be glad to for
ward it,"
Lynn wrote hurriedly: please see
me, Chuck, as soon as you can. It
is terribly important to me. I'm
working at Nine. Reanoud's for two
weeks" Then Lynn turned to the
secretary: This is very important
to me. Will you please see that
Mr.. Austin gets 1t as soon as posi-
ble?"
She went back to the shop, waiting
and hoping that he might telephone.
There was no word.
Nine. Reanoud, realizing Lynn
was under a great strain, spoke
casually Of other things to her and