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I TELEGRAM A Ann n n t e S 5 MIs M I S t I a 1 k e By JOHN t FICTION PATRICK LALLY r A Sequel to Anne Herrick BEGIN HERE DERE TODAY j Blind to Dick H Hardys Hardy's Ings Anne Herrick gives up her teaching teaching teach teach- ing job to marr marry him She finds it difficult to forget Peter Nash the best friend she ever had even though she laughed at his lovemaking Having sold rights to his miniature radio Dick sells himself to the manufacturer manufacturer manu manu- as sales manager Anne is pleased when he pr presents Mrs Her Her- rick eick with the deed to her old home which she and Annes Anne's sister Jane had hadeen een forced to to give up I t if Through Annes Anne's influence Dick bires Peter Pe er as sales director but Pc Fe- ter finally quits after continual clashes with Dick The unpardonable offense in Peters Peter's eyes is Dicks Dick's lava lav ish s spending on other women while he deceives Anne by excuses excuses ot of business busi ness appointments When Anne du- du covers Dicks Dick's philandering he apolo- apolo lizes But the damage is done With her mother and sister as din ner nor guests one on night Anne is humiliated humiliated by Dicks Dick's failure to show Up SNOW GO ON WITH THE STORY t INSTALMENT Anne endeavored to hide her apprehension apprehension hension over over Dicks Dick's nonappearance by talking about the old home But that topic was soon exhausted Then she began questioning Jane about Pc ter i r When did him you ou see last Jane replied He told In me he was getting ready for or the fall all allt term t rm of school Dick told me he had resigned from the office Anne said qUietly For Forshe Forshe she knew nothing or of the encounter that had precipitated Peters Peter's leaving Dicks Dick's employ Did Peter say MY an anything any any- i thing about your our teaching Jane she asked I do wish Jane would teach Anne broke in Mrs Herrick I wont won't feel right unless somebody in the family is 11 teaching k Peter has alread already seen some of the politicians said Eaid Jane and he told me he might be able to obtain a tern tern- assignment for me Ill I'll know definitely in a few days An awkward rd silence fell upon them Mrs Herrick looked at Anne In her eyes was sympathetic under under- standing Janes Jane's face reflected some some- something thing pity different blended with anguish an- an L They for lor seemIngly a an n Interminable while wh le And before lore th the e silence was broken Anne felt that he her r mother knew her secre secret the secret the he had been saving for or Dick Oh Jane J ne said suddenly do you ever hear tram from Mr Major r i Yes Anne Jane brIghtened Sh She e knew she must help Anne Annc for she ha haa had d a pr presentiment of Dicks Dick's whereabouts Mr Ir Major called me last week an and d wanted to know If J I had thought about abou t going Coing to work for him What did you tell h him m f I thanked him but l explained that tha t I would likely be teaching in a fe few w Weeks And it if he did employ me I Id I'd d just about get started when Id I'd have hav e to quit t. t love teaching Jane sai said d Anne glancing g at the clock A der closed her ee eyes 3 as she he saw It w was 15 Jane sensed the misery Anne w was wasI as undergoing I She began talking rap idly her o-her mother telling telling her her in dab orate detail about al a. a fat woman who wh o had come to her department that day dal and caused an uproar by accusing a clerk of insulting her for or insisting she e could not wear a size 18 frock Mrs Herrick listened attentively attentively-at least Jane thought she did until she ended the dissertation Suddenly Anne stool up Excuse me a moment Ive I've just bored I must see the night manager about about the service Ill I'll be right back Her voice sounded strange Both Mrs Herrick and Jane knew she was acting under great stress but they were helpless before belore her reticence Anne went to the lobby hurried to the telephone operator opera tor and said Would you mind ringing my apart ment in about five I think the telephone is out of order She thanked the girl and returned Mrs Herrick and Jane were chatting chat chat- ting about a bridge club that was bung formed by a group of Rogers Park women Neither looked intently at Anne but they drew her into their conversation Annes Anne's replies were given en but when the phone rang she sprang to her feet Jeet picked up the receiver and said Hello A pause then All rIght thank your A longer pause then she said Im S sorry rr Dick mother and Jane are here or Of course you ou couldn't help it iL Surely darling business comes first They'll understand I. I Now please Dick dont don't worry about it iL Well We'll get along fine Cine What's that Yes they both were anxious to see you ou And youre you're going goine to miss my nice din din- nero ncr II Annes Anne's voice trembled She waited and then went on All right darling Well We'll eat now and you ou come home as soon as you ou can Good e II Anne laid down the receiver slowly as though it was a weight that taxed her strength She turned to her mother moth moth- er and Jane and said Dick has been delayed by a busIness conference He may not be home until late Wed We'd better eat cat nos no Ill help you Anne said Jane as Anne went toward the kitchen Than Thank Jane murmured Anne Ina in ina a toneless voice Mother you sit there In the livin g room called Jane with simulated simulate d gaiety as she hurried out to Anne But Anne Annes back was toward her Jane saw aw her shoulders twitch an and d she looked away and went Into th the e dining room where she waited for ea a few lew minutes until she heard Anne Ann moving mo about the stove When she joined her she stole a cautious look at Annes Anne's lace face and was not at all surprised to see her eyes brimmIng She went to her put her arms about her shoulders kissed her then held her head against her breast Neither spoke Jane stood with her arms about Anne until she felt her breath coming regularly Then she raised her head and l kissed her once more Somehow the dinner was served and eaten But it was a dismal dinner despite Janes Jane's repeated attempts to lighten the atmosphere Mrs Herrick out of the wisdom of her years ears knew something was sadly amiss but her love was so deep and abidIng that she could not bring herself hersel to ask ques ques- But when the dinner was over and Annes Anne's chaotic thoughts quieted she I wondered it if Jane were aware of her telephone deception She hoped she Anne was till still hopIng Jane didn't know of her brave attempt to protect Dick when Mrs Herrick and Jane left But the mi misery ery and humiliation which she hc had kept nt at bay during the presence of her mother and Jane left lefther lefther her and Anne found herself po possessed by emotions she had not known be be- emotions fore that demanded Ion sion She went to the wi vii low ow overlook log Ing Chestnut street and dropped into a chair She stared In into o the night every nerve taut She felt herself being be be- ing swept along strange highways and the sensations that came to her with the changing scenes left her I dered But gradually the feeling of oC anger went and Anne prayed for Cor guidance i I 0 God she spoke to the night help me and help Dick I know I now that hes he's weak I thought he needed only me to be strong I find Iod that he needs You aLso And now we must safeguard another life besides our own Please God help us The pr prayer 1 er seemed to cool her burning burn burn- ing thoughts for as she watched th the them e m mysterious shades ot oL night come an ango md d go her eyes closed and she slept A tormenting August afternoon aft n beat down upon a perspiring Peter Nash as he stopped In front of o Jimmie Jimmi e Browns Brown's soft drink shop on West Madson Mad i ison son street He drew forth Corth a dam damp p handkerchief took off his hat wiped wipe his face ace and forehead then with a grimace of distaste opened the door doo r and walked in The polyglot throng at the ba bar r didn't give him so much as a passing glance But the watchful eyes c es of the bartender recognized him and h he e jerked j a dr dripping thumb toward the th e rear The g gesture ture told Peter that Jimmie Jim mie was in his the office tors of the precinct incidentally incidentally- and for tor him to lo repair there Immedi atel Peter nodded his thanks and shouldered dered his way wa through the crowd In the rear room his chair tilted tilte d a against the wall sat Jimmie Brown recognized as one of oC the smartest pre c captains on the west side k Peter entered Jimmie stood up and an d greeted him affably saying Glad t tsee to see you professor glad to see you He turned to the several cronies cronie s who were in the room with him an and said Boys Bays this is Professor Nash Hes He's a big bie shot in the schools Peter bowed and grinned Know i ing ng Jimmie he knew that it was par part t of Jimmies Jimmie's job to impress the boys with the importance of his visitors fo Cor Corthe r the word would travel through th the e district and it wouldn't hurt Jimmie s prestige a bit to have It known that a abig big shot from the schools W was Ui g his hi influence and advice Because he knew this Peter morto more mor e to please Jimmie than anything an thing else stepped into the customary role of bi bie g shot hot He said nothing save when a ad d dressed directly and his replies were e ambiguous the inference being bein o or f course that he knew the answers t to the questions but his position made mad e It impossible for tor him to speak openly Peter had met JImmie through Ji Jimie's Jimmies Jim m mies mie's son whom Peter had taught taugh t when he first came to ChIcago several severa l tl years ago The c casual meeting ha had d ripened into friendship of a sort an and d dd Peter recalled with a glow or of gratitude gratitud e that Jimmie had obtained the true truck k driving job for him the preceding g year when the teachers went so o ton g gg without their salaries To be continued Copyright 1933 Chicago Dally News New Copyright 1934 Register an and Tribune SyndIcate |
