Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-06-12
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

you know it. Now I'm giving YOU
five minutes to get into your clothes
and go downstairs to clean up the OF
flee. If you don't do it. Christmas
or no Christmas, tomorrow you and
YOUR mother can look for another
place to live. I've had enough, and
more"
He waited until he heard her NOV
ing about the room 1t was less than
five minutes before she appeared a
childish figure hastily clad and COM
pletely disarming in her youth ana
her evident fright.
"All right" he said. I'm going
out. Let the hypodermic alone, but
clean up the rest. And send your
mother to bed. She needs it more
than you do.
On the street his anger died. 1t
was eleven o'clock by that time, and
all he could hope was to explain what
had happened But as he walked
rapidly up the hill his spirits revived
somewhat. After all, violent death
was nothing new to him. Life went
on, and he was still young, and it was
Christmas Eve.
1t was not until he reached the
grounds of the Lewis house that he
considered the wreckage of his eve
ming clothes. He stopped, straight
ened his tie, and brushed his knees.
But it was only too obvious that the
party was over. The front doors OF
the house were open, and line of
cars and shining carriages was slow
~ moving forward.
At that point he almost turned
back. He did not belong there, among
people like this, devoted to the fine
decorum of living. He belonged down
the hill, where Jake lay still and
rested, and his own small sign was
the badge of service. He went on,
however, doggedly waiting until the
last carriage had swept proudly out
into the night, and then, dusty, I'M
tidy, and with his white tie still awry,
presented himself at the door to the
eyes of a Mortified man-servant.
"I'm sorry to be so late" he said.
''I was expected to dinner, but had
an accident case. Will you say that
/ have come to make my apologies p
Certainly, sir. Come in. Mr..
Lewis is just inside, sir"
Then he saw Staunton Lewis COM
ing forward, inspecting him with
penetrating eyes, but at least holding
out his hand.
81 suppose you are Doctor Arden"
he said. II began to think the only
way to meet you was to have my
daughter tuck me under her arm and
carry me to your door,"
'I'm frightfully sorry, sir. was
detained"
"You look to me as though you
had been detained by locomotives"
said Staunton, well fed and good
humored for the moment, and still in
speeding Chris with certain amuse-
ment.
So this was the impudent young
pup who had set Beverly on him, and
who was, according to Annie, too
proud to marry her. Well, he'd seen
them like that before, young and I'M
compromising. 1t didn't last. Moth
ing lasted but place and power. He
smiled.
"Beverly's in the drawing room,"
he said. "You can make your peace
with her. My wife's gone up to bed.
Nothing serious, hope?"
at was an accident case. A man
struck by a trolley car"
Lewis became instantly alert. Men
hit by trolley cars were apt to bring
damage suits, or leave them behind
them.
"Serious ?"
"He died. Pm sorry to say. Moth
ing to do for him."
He told the story, and some of
Lewis's after-dinner complacence fad
ed, although he was still courteous
as he led Chris into the drawing room
and left him to make his apologies to
Beverly. But he went at once to his
library and to the telephone.
Better get at it first thing in the
morning." he said, after explaining
Settle before some ambulance chaser
gets to the family"
He did not rejoin Beverly and
Chris. He went upstairs and pre-
pared for bed. He knew these troll
ley cases and the ease with which
they were usually settled. If not,
and it went to court He was not
afraid of any court. Even that young
fellow downstairs was on the city pay
roll now. Not a bad-looking lad, he