Show jr 1 l HEAR 8 1 e B p Joseph McCord Service CHAPTER IX IX Continued Continued ill 10 illI 10 I 1 didn't worry at first first said LeeI LeeI Lee I decided the Hudsons had made mother and daddy stay for tor dinner I 1 was reading and It was midnight before r F realized they hadn't come home borne Hattie Hattle was away for the night and I was alone Then I guess I got rather fr frantic I 1 tried to caUthe call caU the Hudsons and nobody answered I knew that dadd daddy would telephone l if he could It was after thirty one when the phone rang It was Phil Kerney he asked Dale The constable He wanted to know mow if daddy was home Then he asked i if I knew where he was The police at Trenton were trying I to locate him You see see They found your car somewhere and checked up on the tags Dale suggested quietly Go on It was near Penns Penn's Neck Emp Emp- ty Stolen That explains it What's Kerney doing now I dont don't know It takes him so long to tell anything But Dale i if the car was stolen why didn't Daddy Daddy Dad Dad- dy call me Dont get that myself The best thing we can do Is to talk w with th the Trenton sops cops and get the details It may all be cleared up by this time Dale theres there's something else I 1 must tell you You'll know then thena a what Im I'm afraid of I can trust you Of course you know about the White case More or less The trial comes up next month Daddys Daddy's been working night and day on it That's wh why he went away Something to do with some new evidence He was very anxious that no one know about his trip He told me that the reporters were ere trailing him all the time He laughed about that But Im I'm worried for fear there might have been some other reason Can you understand I 1 can guess Dale returned grimly The police know it now But we can say that he went to Trenton on business Now you'll understand v there is only one reason why daddy didn't didn call me He He-he He he couldn't We dont don't know that that Dale said consolingly Suppose you tell me when we get near that Neck place you ou mentioned Well We'll keep an eye out for your car Dales Dale's foot pressed down on the accelerator After that tha t they rode the miles mile's s in silence Dads car has been taken away 1 I watched both sides of the road Lee observed when a glow of light against the low hanging clouds told the he travelers they were vere were nearing the city Twenty minutes later Dale observed observed ob ob- ob served Well here we are I dont don't suppose you know where the police station is Theres There's a cop over at that call box Let me do the talk talk- ing It Police headquarters the officer repeated repealed suspiciously as he scanned the newcomers in the light of a nearby street lamp Sure I t. t know Ill see that you dont don't get lost The patrolman stepped on the running board To your right buddy bud dy and straight up the street Its It's where you you see the lights out front he added a moment later Lee shrank close to Dales Dale's side as their escort piloted them through a wide corridor and into a dingy room where an officer was enthroned en en- enthroned behind a high desk Well young man The sergeant stared curiously at Dales Dale's informal i a attire Hire My names name's Far Farwell vell Dale informed informed in in- formed him promptly Someone here telephoned Constable Kerney of Locust Hill that a car belonging to Mr Cassius Brady had been found abandoned near Trenton This lady Is Miss Brady She She She wants to know what happened hap hap- happened eh Well if shed she'd stayed home a little longer she would have found out out Lee took a step forward her hands clasped beseechingly Where are my father and moth moth- mother er What happened to them Oh please both okay the officer assured Might have been serious Your father had got out of his lils car carand carand carand and was hit by another going past The driver brought him to a hospital hospital hos hose pital here Before the accident report report re reo re- re port came through one of our mo- mo 4 men found your car and called in We got busy right away and checked up Our patrolman reports that your father was knocked unconscious for a while Bruised and cut a little The doctors doc doe tors said it wasn't bad I suppose his wife's with willi him Its It's the General Gen Gen- I eral Hospital I Thank you officer Dales Dale's voice expressed his bis relief reller We were afraid it was more serious After another short drive they found Mrs Brady in the hospitals hospital's reception room in company with her friends Mr and Mrs Hudson We Ve were waiting to see i if you came here Mrs Brady explained after she had answered Lees Lee's anxious f ious sous inquiries Mr Hudson tried to call you after atter we had a report from Irom the ine doctor and the operator could not get an answer I was so worried for fear you might get a acar acar acar car and drive down alone It was very kind o of you to bring her Dale May I see daddy just for a minute minute min min- ute Lee begged Not tonight dear They have given him something to quiet him and he must rest He said to tell you that he would be all right by morning But how did it happen Mother Your father thought one of the rear tires Ures was going down and got out to look at it He must have stepped into the path of that other car I dont don't know just what hap hap- I 1 was too frightened It Mrs Bradys Brady's voice faltered and tears filled her eyes Hudson promptly took the situation situation situation situa situa- tion in hand Youve nothing to worry about Lee he insisted cheerfully Now heres here's the program Were We're taking your mother home with us If your father is well enough tomorrow Ill I'll arrange for someone to bring him home I may drive him up my my- self We can take care of you and Mr Farwell too if tt you'll stay over Thank you Dale interposed b but t I must start for home I ran You dont don't look as 1 If you'd been on a wild party at all was her guests guest's admiring appraisal The Theodor Theodor Theodor odor of that coffee is doing things to tome tome tome me he added It should be ready Would you like to have it in the kitchen How I about a sliver of toast with it I might be bullied Into it Two slivers maybe A bit o of sugar and cinnamon Boy Boyl I Do I like cinnamon toast I told you you ou hadn't grown up Come and hook up the toaster and make yourself useful Lee led the way to the kitchen Dale applied himself assiduously to his breakfast eating the toast Lee prepared and refusing a third cup of coffee regretfully Now come in the other room and I smoke a cigarette before you yeu go Lee made the hasty suggestion when she found Dale regarding her I silently across the table Something In his blue eyes made her suddenly apprehensive She rose to her feet Wait Dale was In front of her now blocking her path He still watched her intently Ive got to know something Lady Lee What Dale Why did you call caB me last night I needed you was the low voiced reply Daddy made me promise not to tell where he had I couldn't call anyone else There never has been anybody Oh she ended with a shamed little whisper whisper whisper whis whis- per youre making me tell you so Lady Lee Lee My Lady Lee Leel Dales Dale's arms went about her holding holding holding hold hold- ing her close Lees Lee's face was burIed buried burled bur bur- led against his shoulder Ive cared so so-so so so much it hurts he murmured his c cheek check eek pressed to the fragrant curls You dont don't know Oh yes I do said a muffled little little little lit lit- I tle voice I was so afraid that I you would go away without telling i me I I. I Dale raised his head that his unbelieving unbelieving unbelieving un un- believing cars might hear the words I love you Lady Lee I 1 think I always have loved you I know I 1 will will forever Im sorry Father Dale said breathlessly a f few w moments after taking leave of Lee He found Doctor Doctor Doctor Doc Doc- tor Farwell standing in the front hall drawing on his gloves I didn't think it was quite so late Pink said something about your receiving a telephone message from Miss Brady early this morning I trust it was nothing serious Dale plunged into a hurried account account ac ac- ac count of his nights night's ride to Trenton and back A temptation to reveal J q y r rj tr i C Ct t 7 jk V Z C ir irr r r. r i ir r n nr r 1 We were waiting wafting to see if you came here off with the family car and my father father father fa fa- fa- fa ther doesn't know where I am And Im I'm going with Dale Lee announced promptly I 1 shant shan't let him drive home alone after he was good enough to get out of bed and bring me here And youre you're sure youre you're all right arent aren't you Mother Very Verv sure Of course and so thankfuL Good Goodnight Goodnight night dear deaf Good night Dale CHAPTER X Y What a night Lee sighed looking look look- ing about as Dale brought the car to toa toa a stop in front of the Brady house The first streaks of dawn shed a gray light on the scene It was a good thing I woke up when I did U If you had carried me in unconscious unconscious the neighbors would have had something to talk about You must be dreadfully tired Im all right You'd better trot in before you have to explain to the Watch and Ward Society where youve you've been all night Well think up a n good story Youre You're coming in too and have a acup acup acup cup of coffee Thanks Id I'd better not Fathers Father's almost sure to want the car when he finds I haven't brought it back yet yet easy Call him from here and explain Besides I haven't taken taken taken tak tak- en time yet to thank you for all youve you've done tonight Please Dale That is an inducement he ad ad- I wouldn't mind stretching stretching stretching stretch stretch- ing my legs a few minutes The strain of the driving over Dale discovered that he was curIously curiously curi curl weary Oh I say he exclaimed in some dismay when he found himself in the front hallI haiLI halL haiL halLI I cant can't take off my overcoat Of O course you can You'll want to go up and wash Rummage around In Daddys Daddy's closet and find something to wear He has a heap of sweaters and things Or you can borrow a n shirt if you like Theres There's nobody up there so help yourself If youre you're sure its it's all aU right Of O course it is Ill I'll start the coffee before I change Much refreshed by an nn application of soap and water and wearing a borrowed sweater coat Dale was lounging comfortably in a living room chair when Lee put in an ap ap- ap- ap She had donned a fresh dress and her bronze curls still stUl were damp from a hasty session with the comb gone I 1 felt that I could trust you I mean that you would trust me That you wouldn't ask any questions and and and- her voice faltered a little I want the right answer Tell me Are you sure you want to know Dale Lees Lee's head lifted Something very sweet and gallant in the brown browneyes browneyes browneyes eyes looking into the blue I must know I needed you Dale There- There there wasn't anybody else Her head bent towards him Oh do you mean that The bronze curls nodded a hesitating hesitating hesitating hesi hesi- tating assent M My dear Two hands were laid on her shoulders Look at atme atme me Are you telling me Do DoI I I 1 count as much as all that Lady Lee Yes Dale As much as that I didn't dare let myself believe It I kept telling myself you might have called somebody else the final chapter all but overpowered overpowered overpowered ered him But not just yet He scarcely had convinced himself that those moments in the kitchen were not a part of some wonderful dream His one desire was to live it over again Alone Lenora loved him His Lady Lee She had told him so Her parting kiss still I was warm on his mouth Jonathan Farwell listened to the story with an expressionless counte counte- nance When it was finished he commented Mr Brady had a very narrow I escape from death I 1 am nm glad that you were able to be of service to i his family Did you notice i if there is enough gas in the car for an hours hour's driving Yes sir I had the tank filled on the way home from Tr Trenton It l 1 would suggest then that you youlie youlie youlie lie down and get some sleep I am amnot amnot amnot I not sure that tha t I 1 will be here for lunch Tell Pink not to wait if I Iam Iam Iam am late TO BE liE CONTINUED |