The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-12
ORDERS FROM VIENNA
CHAPTER xxv

 son Lawes at the Burton County Bank carefully polished his glasses ] and reread the cablegram that had been handed to him.
 Mir. Carter, the assistant cashier, came out of the vault. Whats up?"
 "That young Mitchell = trying to be a fool"
 "Yes?"
 "Cabled orders to turn over that you know, the Tower estate that was left to him, to Drake Mo- Hugh"
 "well, well! Very nice for Me Hugh"
 MT. Lawes slapped it on the desk. well, of all the damned foolish ness ever heard of" % Randy adjusted the window shade, poked the fire, and made small rustling noises.
 Drake spoke finally. ''It's no use, Randy, you've got to talk to me sooner or later. Might as we'll be now"
 She came across the room and sat down beside him. "All right. What do you want to say?"
 T still wish you hadn't told Par ris."
 How would you like it if some thing happened to Paris and he didn't let you know?"
 Drake hesitated. T don't know. I hadn't thought of it."
 "Well, it's the same thing. Drake, he's your best friend"
 "Go on with your wobbly, weak kneed explanation"
 That sounds more like you. You see, Drake, from Paris cablegram how bad he feels that you didn't let him know sooner-about every thing"
 "Yeh. I guess that was wrong"
 "Well, then"
 Drake picked up the message from the counterpane. He had almost worn 1t out since yesterday reading and rereading it. He looked at 1t and his mouth quivered little.
 Gee, he's a great friend, Randy" "Of course"
 But"
 But what, now? What?'
 This last sentence"
 "Yes, know What about it?"
 "'You and Randy stick together till I get there. We'll work every thing out"
 T know it by heart" she said softly.
 Of course he doesn't under stand"
 Doesn't understand what? What are you driving at, Drake?'
 She waited. He did not notice how pale she had become,
 T tell you. Randy, IT remem- bered that if you had just q little money there" His voice faded, I've heard there was homes you could get into-maybe.
 Randy's voice broke harshly against his last word. Drake Me Hugh!"
 Why, what?"
 Would you would you delib- erately treat men that way, and Paris, too?"
 TT don't"
 Drake was looking at Randy with an expression half desperate with his own emotion, and half a puzzled concern for her.
 Then listen carefully. Whatever you say, or however you feel - it's you and me hereafter-together- somehow"
 The expression went out of Drake's face. A curious emptiness remained. The look frightened Randy.
 T want you to trust yourself en- tirely to me for a while until you are we'll and" She bit her lip sharply. Almost she had said up and around again.
 Drake half smiled. t
 But you see, honey = I can't ever be we'll as you say"
 Drake. What has happened is terrible. But you are alive"
 Drake turned his face to the wall. It was an old habit from his childhood, but Randy did not know that. She almost held her breath until he turned back again and looked at her.
 Drake, I'm going to tell you something. and I want you to listen until I have finished. It's first of all about what Paris said in that cablegram: You and Randy stick together till I get there We're go- ing to do that. But I made up my own mind about that long be- fore this-happened. Then after you got hurt I just had to think of how-that was all. Do you remem- Der one time you said something about marrying me? We'll, made fun of the idea because I guess I'd been a little hurt But later on when you came down here-remem- Der the morning you came to ask Pa to help you get a job? made up my mind that day that I'd marry