Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-08-22
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT


BILLIE ANNE'S words seemed
to linger in the air, to pose them
s.lves above the table as she fin
ished speaking:
Maybe I'm prying, but Rob
ert crazy about you and I've a
hunth you like the lad. If you do
we'll. if you do, why don't you do
something about it?" Bills Anne
had sa:i.
What should I do?" Linda
asked, but her eyes were soft green
lanterns ard her white face was
flushed ard eager.
You l.ight let hiIu know you
carre out to the bridge. That would
help. Or you could be sorry hes 60
ing away. Anyway, there he is IN
the door. It's up to you now"
Linda turned. Robert was COM
ing. He was so tall, so strong look
ing, so careleSSly gay in spite OF
the mud-spattered Clothes he Wore.
She felt again the lift OF wings, the
march of music So I'd se1Sed that
first night he como to her
apartment.
Sc saw .,e sudden gladness in
his eyes Y II II, saw her.
Linda! What are you doing on
this train ."
Her voice did lot wiver and her
eyes Cid not falIe- as they met his.
II ca: lie up last nignt--early norm
ing, rather-because l heard you
were il danger"
He sat dow and Billie Anne
slipped away. He reached across
the table and took Linda's hands in
his. you cared enough to Gomez"
"Of course"
He studied her face, not beiev-
ing. But
Because she was close to tears,
she tried to laugh. I've been so
dumb, Ecb. The night YOU passed
me on the steps I was going with
Ronald to keep Sarah from marry
ing somebody else to spite nilo."
Whatever Robert was about to
say she did not ..,now, for the rain,
which had cid into the tUclneled
approach to the statio:::, had
reached its destination and news
'raper men were coming on board.
Robert spoke II q low voice. Il
dent want 20 get you into I'll of
this. Can you duck cut the other
exit? III see yea at seven tonight.
And + might be early!"
Then ne was gone and she YVES
finding her way BACK to her chair,
collecting the wiltod hat, gloves
and over:lSAs bag. She took a cab
to the club, managed a quick show
er, ana put on her rose dress and
the cartwl.eel hat, Changed her
compact, Hpstick, money an1 ODDS
and ends from the black bag to a
large white one, and found white
sandals and loves to match.
Riding to work on a crcss-town
bus she won, cred if the other pas
sengers heard music in the air,
too. Maybe they didn't. If they did
surely there would be stars in their
eyes and laughter on Their lips.
Tie morning went rapidly. Some
one from the district attorneys
Office came t. see her ard tell Ter
she would be wanted as witness
the next week.
Put may not be mere" she an
swered before she thought.
I'D better report the matter to |
the chief" the ran said. by the !
way, Old man Parrish took the ele- !
vator down to get himself surne |
drops for his heart that night. |
Didn't want anyone to know for
fear ned lose his job, Sc he kept |
still. Nice of young Barton to find |.
him a good job where his wife !
GOULD be on hand, too"
''Wheca is the iob?" Liria asked. |
ana tile music in her heart grew a
little gayer.
AT his club, I believe. Now that !
the murderer has confessed, the |
case will be relatively easy. It's |
more or less 4 mater of proving
that Miss Nev:ls was unbalanced |
at the time Of the shooting"
The afternoon vent more slowly !
than the morning had done, and at !
five O'clock Linda closed her desk. !!
put on her hat, and left the office. !,
She was out on the -'reet before !;
she remembered that Robert did |