Evening star., 1951-05-22
CHAPTER ONE


The blue-gray mist hung heavily
over the Eastchester Hills. The
sun had risen in an orange bal
OF fire, which meant another hot
spell and good corn weather.
George Donaldson whistled a.
ne walked the five blocks from
his apartment to the insurance
cfhce. In his early SOS, he was
o successful businessman, with
many influential friends who
threw business his way.
He wore tailored summer suit
that had cost plenty and a Pana-
ma hat. He was handsome man
with just tinge of gray creep
ing into his thick, black head of
hair.
His friends wondered why he
had never married again after the
death of his wife, for he lived
with his daughter, Sherry, now
just 81.
Sherry was practical as well as
beautiful. She was his home
maker and his business assistant
Jas well.
" She ran his home and his Office
efficiently and still had plenty of
time for dates. Sherry was popu-
lar and deServedly so.
h. Her father often told her that
many of his clients brought their
business into the Office without
solicitation. just to see her.
And Sherry. who was wholly
unspoiled, always laughed.
Donaldson turned the corner
on Holly street and went into his
Office. It was a one-story build
ing, with two suites and a custo-
merS' parking lot in the rear.
He threw his hat on chair and
sat down at his desk. He knew
what he would find there.
Sherry had it in order every
morning, the Kirktown morning
paper. the morning mail and the
new policies, ready to 60 out to
their customers.
4ACJS h1O. 11C S1lOQUCU.
Sherry came in from her own
combination Office and filing room.
She was a dark-haired girl with
clear, white skin and a soft love-
illness of manner and person that
was evident at first glance.
whats cooking? Looks like we
have struck it rich!" her father
said, indicating a big stack of new
policies, ready for the mail.
THE group insurance was a
wonderful deal, Dad" Sherry re-
piled. 1--WE are getting all the big
companies now. It really mounts
up. Our income should double this
month"
And whose idea was the group
insurance department? Yours"
Sherry flushed.
Quit clowning, Dad. You know
1t was your own. Just like your
Idea OF moving out here to East
chester from downtown. You knew
when the service men came back
hunting for homes, and the re-
strictionS came off building ma
terialS, Eastchester would boom.
And it did. It's now Kirktown's
biggest suburb. And you have most
Of the insurance business. I think
you're psychic!"
Now who's clowning?" her faith
er asked. And don't say my in
surance business. You will be a full
partner as soon as can have the
papers d.swn up!"
why, Dad!"
Il was going to surprise you. But
I couldn't keep it any longer"
Sherry kissed Donaldson on the
tip Of the nose and ran back to
her Office.
He looked after her for a mo-
ment in admiration picked up the
morning paper.
The front page, as usual, full
OF war scares and economic prob
lens.
He turned away from them with
Just casual glance.
On Page 3 an item caught his
eye. He read it quickly.
Suddenly the man changed. The
color left his face, his shoulders
sagged. and he slumped in his
chair.
For almost ten minutes Donald
son sat staring at the paper, with
out seeing a thing. He was mo-
tionless, and almost like a man
suddenly stricken by a paralyzing
disease.
n Finally he glanced toward
i. Sherry's Office door, saw that it
; was closed, and slowly folded the
paper and put it in his pocket.
He got up quietly and walked
out into the parking lot in the
rear.
He was gone for a matter of
minutes. When he came back in
the oftice the paper was no longer
In his pocket.
He sat down in his chair again
tapped absently on his desk with
q pencel and stared into space.
The mail was unread, the pol
!cies forgotten. Finally he shook
himself, trying to gather his
thoughts, and reached for the tele-
phone. He called a taxi.
Before 1t arrived Sherry came
IN with some more mail.
why, dad, what has ham
pened?"
Her father was still ashy white.
and she saw his hand tremble.
I've just had some very bad
news" Donaldson said.
Il have called a taxi and we
are going over to the apartment
where we can talk without being
disturbed. Lock the office. Put
out the sign, Back soon'."
Sherry ran to her fathers side
and felt his face.
: You're Ill. You have been
working too hard. You must take
o vacation"
That's it," her father agreed.
seeing a chance to soften the blow
iii