Show 0 o 0 COIN BY BETTY ZANE WATSON v johnny davis saver his bis grandmother jennifer martin from a holocaust at her home but since she Is when he reaches her his comin basil martin takes credit for or the rescue thomas the butler Is the only one who knows that johnny was the real hero but he Is afraid to speak even though his doing so might cause mrs martin to acknowledge the grandson she would never have into her home before johnny Is in love with kit hit willett who mho Is engaged to basil when basil asks kit to persuade mrs airs martin to change her will cutting out johnny she he indignantly refuses but he then threatens to transfer her old uncle to a job as laborer johnny tells her he loves her CHAPTER XHI SRI kits aunt was able to find out the price that the widow johnson was asking and while it was more than they had counted on J D said aid he thought he could persuade the council to buy it they figured the remaining part of the afternoon and on into the evening until time tor for the council meeting johnny and kit both anxious to know the outcome of the meeting 91 decided to wait at the clarion office until J D returned while he was gone they speculated on his progress every few minutes johnny do you really think he win will put it through she asked 1 I dont know but it if anybody can dad will he answered very positively if we get it started once why there would be lots of things we could add she suggested did you say we kit do you think basil will allow you to take part in it after johnny did not finish his sentence 1 I keep forgetting when I 1 say we I 1 mean you for of course basil would object and even if I 1 defied them all it would just cause a scene but ill always be thinking that maybe I 1 helped just a little johnny and ill always be thinking of you and wondering how things are tor for you about the park of course she hastened to add yes of course johnny answered slowly about ten J D came up the steps of the building they knew by the look on his face that so something methin 9 was wrong he was not smiling and his expression told clearly of disappointment well kiddies they opened their hearts to us all right he threw down the papers they had so carefully set up tor for the case well have exactly two hundred and my fifty dollars to build the park with after we buy the johnson place at our figure eight hundred dollars less than ashes asking for there it is take it or leave it he stood looking out the window at the black night his hands stuck in his pockets you mean the story J D kit asked coming around the desk to stand in front of him only pay her fifty two hundred for the place johnny asked incredulously yep the whole thing oh yes he remembered ap amount for the swimming pool he saw johnny and kits faces light up but they expect to be paid back in two summers from the fee were supposed to charge the kids he looked at them out of the comer of his eye to see how they would take this charge them to go in swimming johnny and kit asked al most in unison that was their idea but what good would that do the kids at the settlement the kids were building it for they never have a nickel they can spend you know that johnny shook his bis head and gritted gritter his teeth 1 I said it was their idea son why as bad as as mrs martin dont they want a park J D or what kit asked oh I 1 think they dont care much one way or another but the point is they have their budget all balanced nicely and with novembers election near they just dont want to erase those pretty figures of what saved all the taxpayers the real reason kit kit and johnny were both leaning up against the desk looking as discouraged cou raged as they possibly could J D walked over to them and smiled at them laying a hand on each of their shoulders the council buys the johnson place wait a minute kids dont lump jump yet youre forgetting that old J D can still pull a few tricks from the bag he laughed as they looked at him eagerly it so happens that ive got a little bit salted away its not much but its something ive been saving it for a new press but well the old ones been with me so long that id sort of feel like I 1 was junking an old friend anyway so maybe with that money and a few more shekels we could swing the deal yet they both looked at him and neither said a word but the admiration they both felt was written plainly orr on their faces it baskit was kit who spoke first J D youre a darling but were not going to let you lose your new press its just not right and the old ones worn out you know that no dad we cant do that you keep your money till fill you can get the new press there will be some other way he put his hand up to his chin and frowned theres got to be some other way usten listen since when do I 1 take orders from two young squirts like you its my money and I 1 intend to do with it what I 1 think should be done with it those kids need a playground a lot worse than the clarion needs a new press they argued tor for a while but finally gave up J D had made up his mind and it was final he had enough to pay the johnson widow the six thousand she was asking and that would leave ten hundred and fifty dollars to invest in material for the playground since the labor or most of it was to be free the swimming pool would have to wait for a few years or until they could show the town council what an interest the park would create in the town well then its decided and we cant talk you out of it J D she looked at him and saw him shake his head defiantly we might as well celebrate then and anyway this is johnnys birthday she smiled at johnny yeah lets get out of here johnny quickly changed the subject johnnys birthday it is it son how many years boy twenty four it He shook his head it seems like yesterday he looked at the calendar and slowly tore off the page of november crumpled it and threw it in the waste basket the next few days were ones of activity for johnny J D and kit although she had quit her job at the clarion the saturday before she was down at the office monday morning early they were to see mrs johnson that day and kit had offered to go with them and would have been quite disappointed if they had acted as though they did not need her help the deal for the house went through at 1 fifty seven hundred and J D could have gotten it at even a lower price it if he had not felt that the widow needed the money they were all three elated over the formal signing up and reminded one another of the advantages that the property had tor for the park site they tried not to compare it to martindale park for several reasons martindale was definitely unobtainable secondly the deal had gone through now and there was no backing down the council had their money in it it as well as J D kit was still at the office when jackie came in they were all surprised to see hini him the child was pale and still weak looking but he showed a good Z 0 Q 7 7 they got almost as much kick out of it as the boy did deal of improvement the day was bitterly cold and his ragged little jacket didiot did not keep him warm kit noticed immediately he climbed up on J D s lap and the tour four of them talked and laughed together they ordered hot chocolate and sandwiches brought in from the confectionery next door and had a regular celebration in his honor which made him very proud he had said he had to be home by four when his father got home and johnny promised to get him there in time before he left the child turned to kit and very seriously asked when are you going to get married kit kit thinking he still thought she was johnnys girl as he had originally believed answered well honey we decided yet but well let you know wont we johnny she winked at johnny no jackie shook his head and looked down at his feet 1 I mean the real one youre going to get married to kit was embarrassed she wondered how he had found out about basil in a few days jackie she answered slowly jackie poses kit what are you going to marry him for hes bad the child looked directly into her eyes and demanded the truth she found it would be hard to tell him the truth his childlike child like faith might not accept her standards why because I 1 because we love each other jackie and hes really not bad honey what mat makes you think that he disregarded her last question how can you love him and johnny too kit she was stumped there was no answer to that but one she could say bluntly that she love johnny in fact that was the only thing she could say but I 1 dont love johnny she breathed a sigh of relief that much was settled jackies eyes grew large and he looked up at her earnestly oh but you do kit you do what do you say we take a look at that sheepskin jacket down at Di for you jack johnny had seen the jackets in the window before and had decided the boy should have one but jackie was not to be sidetracked but johnny wont you tell her she does he pleaded anxiously johnny looked at kit helplessly he was as embarrassed as she was well jack ill do my best he halt dragged the boy out to the street J johnny was outfitted from head to toe when the three of them finished with him at Di they got almost as much kick out of it as the boy did they looked like christmas shoppers when they finally brought the child home mrs murphy greeted them at the door her gratitude making her plain little face almost beautiful As they drove away kit confessed to the two men you know I 1 dont ever think ive had so much fun he a darling yeah johnnys face lit up hes just the kind of a boy id like to have kit remembered johnnys statement that evening when she was with basil 1 I had a lot of fun today baz we ah some friends and I 1 bought some clothes for a little kid after she mentioned it she wished she had not brought it up there was too much about it that she did not want basil to know he would not like her being at the clarion especially after she no longer worked there and he certainly would not appreciate her buying clothes for jerry murphys Murp hys child murphy had caused enough trouble going to martindale every other day threatening to sue the martins for the childs accident basil had been cleared and did not intend to pay fay them a cent he told kit quite definitely ini tely she went on describing the event with as much clarity as she could remembering not to mention the childs name or who her friends had been which will we have first baz a boy or a girl she asked smiling at him neither final the old lady is just looking for an excuse to get out of leaving me her dough and that sure would clinch it dont talk kids to me baby he drew a long drag on his cigarette basil what are you talking about kit asked just what I 1 said why shed love to leave everything in a trust fund for a great grandchild or anybody else she could dig up and dont think I 1 dont know it ile he nodded his head and you mean we wont have any children because kit was sitting on the sofa beside him and she stood suddenly because you are so selfish you want all of mrs martins money for yourself because he took her by the wrist and pulled her down beside him le ing over her his face close to hf wait a minute beautiful you got gin me wrong he looked deep in her eyes and touched her cheek with his lips 1 I was only kidding why cant you tell baby why the only reason I 1 dont want to have any kids is he nodded his head in the direction of linda martins portrait what would I 1 do it if anything happened to you like it did to her kit he smoothed her hair back from her forehead you know I 1 live without you dont you you basil she asked not looking at him her voice was expressionless johnny and J D were in the office of the clarion when pat nickols came in tuesday after the johnson property was officially theirs bad news for L the davisel he was a big burly fellow and johnny had not seen him since he had been one of the party that had started to work on the martindale park some months back his usual smiling face was clouded as he burst into the office where the two men were busy with the copy for the evening edition J D looked up well pat what is on your mind plenty J D was his reply and the expression on his face matched the seriousness of his answer you fellows buy the johnson place right pat were going to put the park on the lot johnny spoke up 1 I dont think be putting any park on that ground he shook his head my grandpa built that place back in 86 and they had a devil of a time theres a rock bed under that house no moren five feet down below ground and you know the kind of rock we got around here so darned hard you cant even touch it J D had prepared himself for bad news from the look on pati i face but this was a little worse thal tha V 1 he had counted on he said nothing for a few minutes he have the courage to look at johnny after studying a moment johnny asked quickly well that was under the house could be the rest of the lot is an all right it that I 1 co say davis maybe but it aint likely he saw the boole of disappointment on johnnys face and added quickly but well see ill round up some of the men this afternoon and well give it a try you be over there he asked both the men you keep us away pat J D answered for both of them TO BE CONTINUED |