The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-19

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inclined to cry out in her relief at
elrdlng them there, calmly eating,
j.. Emmett a stolid and SUBSTANTIAL
figure at his end of the table.
Paula composed at hers.
Hello, chick! Come to have
dinner with the lid folks j. EN-
met jerked a thumb toward the
butler. Pull up a chair for Mrs.
Arden, here by mel" He noticed
that DANES hands were trem-
bling and he added, Bring her a
shot of brandy, too"
Diane sat down. Dad"
j. Emmet chucked her under
the chin. Been reading the news
papers, eh?"
Bill told me-"
Bill told your" J.. Emmett
chuckled. "What'd he say?"
That every citizen in this
town"
Now j. Emmett laughed with
gusto. "You bet it'll be every dog
gol-ed man of EN-, in a loud howl!
Because I've put something big
across while they've been asleep!
Any one of a dozen in this town
could've done it if he'd had the
CUTS and they're going to be sore,
naturally. Oh, it's all perfectly lie.
gal, I've looked to that! A suit'll
cost me plenty, I've a couple OF
lawyers coming from New York
tomorrow, but it'll cost the other
fellow plenty, too. And where'l he
be when the court throws his case
out? And the rest of 'em? Just
where they r now. I'll still own
the. controlling stock in their two
penny City Transit, in the power
plant that pushes the cars, the
factory that makes 'em, the
buses, too! Serve 'em right if l
made 'em pay a dime straight
for q ride.
Joe" said Paula quietly.
Cant a fellow boast to his own
folks? What this town won't rec
is that I'm ready to push
along"
"You don't need to boast to u.s."
said Paula with a warm smile for
him.
Diane did not ask to know more
o. the situation; her father appar-
emily was not disturbed by it so
she need feel no concern. But he
said enough to convince her that
it would in all likelihood be
Grandharbor against J. Emmett
farrell. And Bill should figure in
a trial of such wide interest, have
a chance to champion his fellow
citizens rights, oppose his talents
to those of the lawyers brought
on from New York.
what more's or your mind, lit
tie un?" asked j. Emmett, after
dinner. He had come to the lib
brary to get a cigar from a box
he kept, coaxed Diane along with
him. He had noticed how little
she had eaten at the table, the
frequency with which she bit
down on her underlip to steady it.
Signs Of nerves going, he had
thought, and was more worried
about that than a lawsuit which
undo the careful scheming
OF several years. Tell your old
he added with a clumsy
responsiveness.
Diane drew a long breath. She
had the feeling Of %plunging over a
precipice. dad, you said, that
dag in your office, that I was
going too hard a pace. l guess
| am. Will you stake me to a
trip away west, maybe? "A
ranch somewhere" Because her
plan was shaping as she went
along her voice jerked a little and
J.. Emmett was more than ever
convinced she was close to break
He doomed: "Now you're talk
ing sense, girl! It's what you
have done last spring. OF
course I'll stake you, to all the
money you need. Why don't you
60 to Tim O'Neale's rancho"
eyes, Tins" She remembered
it was only a few miles out OF
"Ill go there"
"Tim'n have good horses, i you
want to ride. He'll turn the place
down for you. I'd like to
see the old bugger, see his setup.
You tell him Paula and I'll be
coming out there, first holiday we
take. Say, what about Paula go
ing along with you7 Might not be
a bad idea"
mo, no." put in Diane sharply.
She added: "Paula wouldn't leave
you, you know perfectly WE'LL"
J. Emmett grinned. mo, don't
suppose she would! When do you
want to start Off"
Diane put her hand to her
"Soon. I must go-right
away! I could wire Tim l was
coming, or you could, couldn't
you? 1 could stay in a hotel if he
have room for me, stay I'M
he did. Dad" her eyes i'm
him, Twill you let me just
90? I mean, don't say anything
anyone about when I'm going,
)r where"
Nerves again, thought J. En-