The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-03-05
CHAPTER XVII

A
'sYou go upstairs and get into dry
things" Kelly said to Cherry. mo
use your catching pneumonia.
He sat down at the desk, and
Cherry reluctantly went away. May
was waiting for her in the hall and
not only personally managed the hot
bath but descended afterward to the
kitchen for tea and toast.
eff you aren't in for flu, I'll miss
my guessl" said May.
When she came upstairs with the
tray, it was to ask Cherry if she
would have her little midafternoon
meal in old Mrs. Marshbanks' room.
''She don't feel very good and she
asked if you wasn't too tired would
you come in and see her."
"Well, of course" Cherry said.
Feeling achy and dull, she was not
only vaguely hattered by the pro-
posal, but she was glad of any COM
pany on this dreadful afternoon.
Cherry found her grandmother
restless and uneasy. But to Cher
rvs great relief she seemed dis
inclined to speak of the affairs OF
the moment.
The clock struck fouf. The old
woman looked across at her COM
panion, her voice sounded oddly firm
and clear in the silence.
''Judson was an honest man." she
said, ''but he never was fair to his
brother. Frederick
Cherry was unable to speak. She
felt her throat thicken; tears stung
her eyes. The proud, stiff old voice
went on.
st would be very sorry to think
that anything / had ever done had
hurt you,' said Mrs. Marshbanks.
"When something surprises you and
and distresses you, sometimes you
act without thinking"
81 don't think it matters much
now" Cherry said, with some diff
fculty. "It might have been unim-
portant. Nobody knew what was in
that envelope"
''It was unfortunate. I suppose, ="
the old woman said reluctantly and
proudly, '..that my boy inherited his
disposition from me. He would not
be crossed"
''You are much stronger than
your father" said Mrs. Marsh
banks. The girl felt an odd sense Of
pride. 1t was something-even on
this strange, terrible day-to have
won the respect of her strange, ali
enated old grandmother.
"You can stand what would have
broken him." Mrs. Marshbanks
presently added. "You know, sup
pose, that Judson left you a little
property in his will? What I have
will be yours, too," she went on, I'M
emotionally. ''It is not what you
might have had, but it is some
thing"
"Thank you," Cherry said SIM
ply. There was tap at the door and
she sprang to it, her heart ham,
mering wildly. It was Kelly.
He looked tired, and was graver
in manner than she had ever seen
him.
sFran and / are going out with
these lads WHILE" he said, without
preamble. IT wanted you to know.
See you later"
She caught at him, her eyes fright
ened. He smiled and was gone.
Mrs, Marshbanks and Cherry sat
quietly, saying little. 1t was a relief
to both when Greg came in.
ssWhat's happened?" he inquired.
MARTIN looked like Boris Karloff
when he let me in"
ssNothing's really happened; at
least we don't believe it has," Cher
nv told him, choosing her words
carefully. "But Fran went sort of
crazy today and told them a long
story about how she killed your IA
Their"
'sWhat do you know about that!'
Greg commented scornfully. cts
got on her nerves. What'd they
de?"
"Well, she and Kelly Coates went
out with them-to police headquar-
tiers, I suppose"
tCoates, too?"
'sEfal" Greg calculated, more Sc
riously. ! never knew there was
anything going on there!"