The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-12

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
& lex was saying, 1--WE already
s+.r,ed to look around for a place
81 my own. Not too big-a hun
Sred acres or SO. That'u be
cough for a dairy farm, which
4. what l want. Big enough for a
Es-art anyway
sherry tried to picture Kay on
i. farm-any sort of a farmland
couldn't
Bus she said, merely. Il hope
,,on find just what your want, that
'.m1 and Kay will be happy"
The telephone rang and Sherry
hoard Helga come in. from the
si.;tchen to answer it, heard her
ns1l Its for you, Miss Sherry"
She excused herself ard went
o,,t into the foyer. Helga had al
ready gone back to the kitchen.
sherry said, "Hello:"
sherry Wade" the voice of
bor sisters husband came harsh
- unnaturally to her along the
wire. Sherry, you must come
aver here at once. And get hold
Of your mother"
"Buj-I can't get hold of Moth
or" Sherry told him. She's out
of town and /"
| Won come tnen-ouick1y,' Wade
l broke in. The urgency in his voice
frightened Sherry.
"Wade. what is it? What's
wrong?"
~Dreadfully i'll, Sherry. She" his
1oice broke raggedly, as though
he had sobbed "she may not
Hive"
cherry felt GOODNESS settle over
bar like a cloak. There was some
thing wrong mere, something
a Val. who was never i'll,
VIII was so young, SO vital.
,But what is it Wade?" she de-
n,anded. Whats the matter with
herr"
For a moment there was only
silence at the other end of the
-,,irs 2 terrible appalling silence.
sherry became aware dimly of
Tpr who had come to stand be-
4 hind her, his hands resting on her
shoulders. His hands were strong
and steady, yet she shivered I'M
der them and felt them tighten
comfortingly. Still her dreadful
tearing fear grew.
wade, what's wrong with
herr"
H. said then, repeating himself.
"she's a~readfully i'll Sherry. She
may not live-come on - come
quickly!'
There was a little click as he
hung up. After a shaken confused
moment, Sherry hung up, too.
She turned then, with a little
sob. into Lexis arms, felt them
close around her, felt the rough
tweed of ais coat against her wet
cheek.
She gasped ooh, Lex-it's Val!
rm-frightened. Wade sounded so
queer. He wouldn't tell me what's
wrong-only that she's dreadfully
tI-that she may not-live."
He held her tight as the storm
of weeping shook her. He was
strong and dependable, a rock to
cling to. Sherry didn't know what
she would have done without him.
He said, Get your things on.
I'll drive you there"
But, in the end, it was Lex who
40. her coat, her hat, who helped
her into them, who knotted her
scarf about her throat. 1t was Lex
who gave Helga a brief explana-
ton then led Sherry down to the
car and tucked her into it. She
couldn't seem to stop %shivering.
There had been-something in
NaQe S voice, SOIlle tlllllS t1lot SNSA'
Lex didn't know about. Something
that rasped and grated, something
inexplicable and terrifying.
Sherry supposed she must have
told Lex the Carringtons' address.
The little car sped through streets
jammed with early evening traf-
tic. Lex's big hands were firm on
the wheel. Somehow just staring
at them gave Sherry a sort of
vicarious strength. But she still
had to hold her teeth tight to :
gether to still their c~hatterlng.
Lex didn't talk much during
that nightmare ride. Sherry prob
ably wouldn't have heard him
anyway. Her thoughts winged a.
head to what awaited them. Val
on, Val-what is it? What can it
be? Over and over again her mind
asked these questions. over and
over again, she thought incredu-
lously, But Val is SO healthy, so
young and strong.
She nuSf have hahhIed some