Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1946-08-09
Tie IOMIHeUHNW6
g ~ss:ss .:s 49, Gl:=a:s4s11zzezEtoA eoe<In
CHAPTER FORTv.SIX

CHAPTER FORTv-SIX
THE FERRY was Changing ant
grinding. He took one or two
steps In the direction Nina haG
gone to assemble her luggage and
was stopped by nudge on his
arm. 1t was the Hastings kid
The girl was carrying heavy va
Uses and she glarccd from the
luggage to him significantly. with
so plain an appeal that ne found
he was honestly sorry. for Pat
looked bcdraggicd and poignantly
helpless and tired.
He sad: Wish could helm
you with those but I'm promised.
If I'd just thought TO bring my
spare arm"
Pat set down one bag and
brushed back the hair strings that
trailed to her eyes. It's all right.
I'll get n porter or someone"
He said: Wen. so long
Thanks for the Scotch"
She put her hand Oh his sleeve.
will you give me ring? Wen
be at the Waldorf" She caught
the involuntary curl of his lips.
"Oh, don't let that scare YOU.
Heavens, I'm not Why, the way
/ feel now" Again. she pushed
her hair YEARLY back. II feel rs
If I'd been through tile war.
Why" Her eyes plugged. her
mouth CAPPED. why. it's some
thing like that. like that wreck.
isn't it?"
Something" His smile became
fun. almost plying. Only. more
so. All the time"
"Oh, no! Eut then Lou
they stand it?"
Some 60. Some don't" nc said,
rather sharply. Depends on what
kind OF person you are. II you're
one kind, you pull up your nerve
and do something TO help. Il
you're another. you sit down and
cry and say why did 1t happen to
mco"
Her smuGGcd forehead wrinIiIcd;
her juvenile, painted mouth STAYED
agape with the effort of thinking,
until she SAID, quietly: Il CATCH"
He touched rcr shoulder and
again smiled. Facts OF ntc. KID
We!l, so long. Fake care OF
yourself" lie salu;cG and sGuirmcd
through the goms-on crowd to
ind Nina She had said her good
bys. He picked up ner luggage.
They were caught in the swarm
at the gates, pushed out to the
Shed. strobe down the long. bilge-
rocking ferryhouse tunnel. out TO
the raw. blustery streets OF New
York. a yellow cab idlcd in front
O the ferry house and as they
moved toward It. Rauchmeyer
lunGed past them, lcapcd nto the
cab. slammed the door.
For a quarter hour more, the
Palm Queen survivors were all to-
gether again, scramb!ing and
squealirG and hghtirg for taxi
cabs. YOU'D think" he heard Mrs.
Hastings complain. they'd take
care of Us. Pat. when we tell
your father! What hell 10 to that
railroad"
Pat Hastings voice, ashamed
and impatient. rose over her
mothers. oh. mother! Pu-leeze.
Won't you believe there's a WARP"
Corbett SAID: You wait here"
to Nina, Gucked through the
stream OF trucx traffic. Jagged n
cab as Il came to the corner
jumped IN. drove around. STONED
not before Nina, nut in front OF
the Wcstons and Joauic. Get in"
He lifted the child INTO the taxi.
so long. cookie. uc good. Sec
you some more" lie rc.crosscd
the street. w:swlCgcG IN the rain
until tie t!aSgcG another. He put
In Nlna's bags. climbed in beside
her. She gave the driver an adj
dress IN the F!ftIcs and slid back
In her corner.
lie was bUsytng himself with
the waterfront fruit sheds. know
ing the citation of seeing familiar
scenes and so at first he failed 10
see that Nina was Gabbiuc her
eyes with Il grave! linen SQUARE.
When tie finally turned. she had
moved deep INTO her corner and
was pretending to look at the
piers. The droop OF her back was
betraying. He grippcG her Shout.
oerS. turned her around.
The ridiculous ha; was p"sncd
back like harriLan's. Her hair
struggled. She had just the one
earring, on ii lobe as black as n
stoker's. Her tan was amber and
tears had made strcaks. He said:
Hey! What goes ?"
She swallowed hard. Nothing.
I'm just a dope" She pulled out
her compact. looked IN its mirror
"Oh. good Lord. look at mel" She
yanked Oft her nat. fumblcd
around in ncr bag tor something
with which to wipe of the dirt,
women are the crazlest people,