Show 4 X aa illeen nor illustrations irwin kc r r CHAPTER vir VI continued gall gail went on with her musing not so much about artel ariel now as about dick he seemed a very rock of strength tonight she felt a passionate regret for all the times she had bad thought slightingly of him treated him carelessly buddy raisch larry barchi and dorothy camp had all failed ariel lut but big homely awkward loyal dick had not and never would fail any of the lawrences Lawren ces gall gail felt puzzled somehow she was even aware of a little self consciousness with him tonight for the first time in her life it was as if she had never seen him before when they went back into the old kitchen kif chen and he balf sat and half leaned against the table in his usual way she found herself studying him fasal bated by his ease and his quick emphatic use of words and his adequacy in this crisis the worst that can bap ap 7 pen to ariel dick this was edith from the arm of phils chair where she sat leaning against him I 1 what I 1 happen dick wd said reflecting is that the charge against ariel will be dismissed and that shell be retained as a witness but there may be dam ages from moss oh ob dear gail walled wailed she looked at phil another mortgage just as we were clear sh she said philosophically no I 1 mortgage the place again phil said deliberately id borrow on my insurance policy this time phil are you insured asked both sisters surprised and impressed 1 I took out some a little while ago his colorless skin as clear as a girls flushed suddenly he looked at dick and laughed a little uncomfortably dick gave gail a look full of significance ance and understanding phils insured himself because he be wants to marry lily edith said to gail when they were alone later 1 I know it this edith said solemnly is real eal trouble gail 1 I know it gail agreed again they looked gravely at each 0 ther other 1 1 I cant believe that I 1 went off to los gatos only yesterday ne never iv dreaming of this 1 I suppose we go to work just as usual tomorrow well ill have to gall gail said lying in bed she went over the whole bewildering panorama the me incredible had happened this was disgrace but she could not quite forget a new note anew a new thread of friendship and happiness that had somehow come of it all dicks sternly concerned face as he first listened to aniels story the authority with which he had assumed command of the situation and his manner in the police station definite and friendly all these seemed to create a new dick or rather to put an unknown person in dick stebbins place van would be tremendously concer ened too of course van who might have saved ariel all of this if he had acted quickly enough last night over at monterey if he had realized but then why should he had any of them realized the deadly danger into which ariel was drifting if her fam ilys influence could not keep her at home why should that of a man she hardly knew bring her back there A spasm of sheer pity for ariel stirred gail poor little ariel hot and tired and frightened trying to drive a car through the sunday traffic with a couple of heavy half intoxicated boys for her only only companions it was terrible gail brought her eyes resolutely to her book but instead of the printed lines there rose before her inner vision the picture of a hard lean serious young man leaning over a police sergeants desk D die c stebbins was in the kitchen again awkward earnest adequate she was in the courtroom with dick stebbins she closed her book put out the light soon she was floating drifting sinking and rising on a sea of dreams CHAPTER the big court courtroom roo M was waa very hot gail could hardly believe that this tense dark dirty place of fear and shame had been in existence yesterday and last year and would be going on through all the years the happy marketing world so near and uncaring phil and edith were with her the fifth lawrence white and frightful and looking leas than her seventeen years was inside the fence dick was with ariel sometimes they whispered together often she looked at her brothers and sisters dick and ariel talked to the judge who looked from face to face seriously biting his lips as he lisac listened ned gail prayed wildly then ariel and dick came down and joined the others the case against ariel is dismissed dick whispered so far so good miller was drunk he explained pla ined his words barely audible barely formed with his lips hes been arrested before aniels fined fifteen dollars for driving without a license you mean not going to try her for anything dick the case is dismissed they believe it il their eyes moved solemnly toward each other we cant ariel and all we cant go dick sure e ran can five minutes later the lawren ices ces scared and white but beginning to breathe again were out in the street aniels ordeal was over dick brought the verdict to gall gail at the library late that afternoon the jury out fifteen minutes guilty they say Miller 11 ll get five years dick is that the end of it the end oh my G d I 1 am grateful gall gail whispered tears in her eyes phil went up to tell edith and van murchison hlson took ariel off for a drive hes going to have her home well before six dick re reported could you dine with us dick not tonight im goings going over to Stani stanislaus to see mother gee dick added youthfully after thought 1 I wish you could get ariel to stop running with that bunch of oh ashes cured now gall gail predicted when its too late added sadly well weve been fools I 1 1 1 I dont see that youve been a ingol fool dick protested surprised IGO gail laughed a little fluttered I 1 I 1 looked down as she stamped a lbook book looked up she looked straight into his bis face noted the line of jaw the wide apart wide open gray eyes her eyes fell to the big hand on the desk with his old cap in the fingers dick how are arc we ever going to thank you oh cut it and you know she said leaning toward him looking at him with her heavy brows anxiously knitted you know what a child alre sh e is dick you dont think people will remember this against her dick oh I 1 suppose the old tabbies will vill whisper about it for awhile shell just have to live it down gail said wondering von dering if her words had any meaning oh sure he still lingered their heads were close together gail wondered what he would do what the dull browsing occupants of the library would do if she suddenly kissed him on the temple he looked up with his kindly grin the waters of the great sea were drawing her drawing her away from solid ground gail was deeply subconsciously aware of a fear that she would betray herself suppose she thought smiling her mysterious smile at him he suddenly leaned across here and caught at my hands bands and said 1 I love you the matter dick asked 1 nothing I 1 just felt a little giddy g addy reaction I 1 suppose for twenty minutes after he went away she knew neither where she was nor what she was doing or saying then she went UD to and boned edith and they walked linnie home together happy exhausted grateful gail hugging her amazing strange new secret to her heart as if it were a living thing ariel came in a few minutes after dinner preparations were under way and both older sisters glanced at her fearfully did you have a nice drive darling oh heavenly arlel ariel said with a weary sigh and a sober face bring van back to a upper supper think to ask him do you like him gall gail asked encouragingly oh hes darling arlel ariel said listlessly not that it makes any difference she added bitterly ali ah dont say that dear both sisters dreaded this mood when she would be resentful and dark for I 1 ach awhile I 1 ae and end up with hysterical laughter hysterical tears and physical collapse well why should it matter in this jay place you dont suppose stay here one minute longer than he has to do you ariel demanded ang angrily Tily im sick of it sick of it she said in a sullen undertone sam came in and lighted the gas above their heads dusk had deepened almost into darkness sam youre an angel edith said gratefully 1 I suppose jail or no jail we eat cat sometimes sam asked by way of answer kissing the bade back of gails neck where the thick tawny tendrils of hair curled up like a babas hair listen theres a swell film at the liberty tonight want to go ariel no thanks ariel began toan to answer steadily but her voice shook suddenly and her words cameila came in a rush 1 I dont want to go and have every old churchgoing church going psalm singing cake sale making old woman in this town pointing me out sh she C a said aid in a low tone 1 I dont want my clothes to come from any more I 1 dont I want vant sodas a dobbins and dances at Odd fellows hall im sick to death of this whole and this house and being poor im not going to stand it either rm im going down to hollywood if I 1 have to walk there and im going ali ah sweetheart only make yourself ill gail pleaded close beside her now sitting on the arm of aniels chair with one arm about the younger sisters shoulders dont get yourself all wrought up listen darling listen if the whites a do give a fancy dress party and we give a birthday party she stopped for arlel ariel looking at her with a trembling laugh of scorn broke as suddenly into tears and was laughing and crying in the familiar manner before any one of them could attempt to divert her guided by gail she stumbled from the room and upstairs sobbing incoherently and now beginning to feel wretchedly sick cold hots hot nauseated dizzy gail turned down the wide old bed and flattened the pillows she carried a fresh nightgown to the poor little convulsed figure kept an arm about the shaking shoulders she lowered the shades lighted a bead of gas slipped the hot rubber bag comfortably in between the old linen sheets and all the while her heart sang on a strengthening note dick dick dick it was good to be twenty three and to have dick in the world gail felt that she had never been so near to ariel never had loved her so dearly and so downstairs to the dear familiar plates and lights the peach tapioca and the blackberry punch the eager conversation that was punctuated with laughter and supplemented by the books they always dragged in somehow for reference or support wonderful to have it cold again gain edith said wonderful gail echoed but it was vas not the autumn coolness that made her heart sing and float like a skylark the secret was always with her and when she forgot dick for a second it was delicious suddenly to remember him again gail had never had any feeling like this in her life before she had never known that there was such a feeling dick she thought dick dick dick dick and at the realization that he might quite naturally come coine into the dining room and sit here visibly under the rasping gaslight she felt actually faint with ecstasy you dont like van as well as you did edith guessed shrewdly in the days that followed no but still I 1 like him gail answered defensively to be continued |