Show 0 ROL r vv ift yi leitha Ala mallory nory young nurse engaged to care for mason tannahill Tannah lil ailing georgia millionaire Is stunned to learn that her old patient Is actually her grandfather the father of her mother of whom she knew very little lie he tells her she Is to be his sole heir andres handsome nephew of tannahill Tanna hUl proposes to her and justin justan son of charlene Chirl cne the housekeeper Is also attached to her she finds someone has tampered with the water in her room and sets it aside to be analyzed she calls rich hauer haller a friend who wanted to marry her and he agrees to stop by to see her when she returns to her room tor for the tampered water she finds the container empty CHAPTER XII when leitha me met t As for charlene chariene to the kitchen to her on her way get mason Tanna hills luncheon tray that good wo woman man in her sweet motherly fashion put a plump arm around the young nurses waist and declared that it just did her soul good to see leitha looking so rested profusion was not leitha knew necessarily sincerity she had always distrusted people who lavished her with dears and darlings but tt if charlene was so anxious to have leitha be nice to her son she surely have tried to harm her by putting something in her water carafe it was all to too 0 deep for her leitha was obliged to admit the mystery would have to wait along with that of the locket incident it would have to wait until joseph clairmount came the following week her grandfather had told her that the lawyer could be trusted absolutely sol perhaps it would tie be best to put all of her problems before him he might not be such a wizard that he could solve them all but leitha was glad that her grandfather had sent for him surely his coming would help some anyway rich arrived the following afternoon when leitha flanked by andres and justin was at the pool she was sitting on its edge her swimming lesson having been completed she had planned to make ready for or richs arrival later she would not get back into uniform but would greet him wearing a more feminine summery frock instead she was wearing a one piece green bathing suit lent her by tanis she had taken off the snug white cap so that her bronzed hair shone like burnished gold in the sun curling in damp ringlets about her flushed laughing face nevertheless richs blue eyes regarding her did not express approval as she jumped to her feet to welcome him rich dar darling lingl she felt like throwing her arms around him she was so glad to see him but of course she did not not before all the others tanis was perched on the top rung of the diving ladder drying her ash blond tresses while charlene was still in the pool rich looked elegant in his uni form orm his face stained a deep tan from rom sun and wind his eyes bluer than ever his teeth whiter hi kid he said with so much tess less enthusiasm than she had shown that she certainly was glad she had not given a demonstration of her emotions youre looking right enough he be added his bis eyes still surveying her thank you leitha returned the pendulum of her emotions that had taken such an upward swing now swinging as far in the downward direction you are looking good yourself I 1 expecting you agite so early tanis apparently agreeing with leitha that the newcomer looked good now left her high perch to climb down and walk toward them in her unhurried graceful fashion whenever you arrived could not be too early she said extending a slender crimson tipped hand dont let leitha give that impression its so nice to have you at tannahill captain haller I 1 am tanis geller the grand countess manner leitha thought anyone would have thought that tanis was mistress of tannahill richs eyes showed definite approval now he said its nice to be here even nicer than I 1 expected pec ted rich playing the gall gatanti antl well ill be darned leitha fumed tanis was conceited enough without his making it appear that he was overwhelmed by her blond beauty rich Is welcomed at tannahill tanis in her white bathing suit was overwhelming her skin was the color of cream in coffee with her hair hanging like a silken mantle she looked lovely but leitha resented richs too obvious admiration of the other girl leitha stifling her resentment of richs gallant manner toward tanis introduced him to andres and justin then charlene swam over to the side of the pool to have him presented to her 1 I been in as long as the others so im not quite ready two to come out she told him adding in her little girl way that is it if you dont mind rich still playing the gallant that leitha found so foreign to him said that he did not mind at all he would not dream of allowing her to come out on his bis account perhaps captain haller himself would like to have a swim tanis still playing the hostess suggested one is always hot after any kind of trip even if its been by air andres cant you find a suit that will fit andres turning toward leitha said id be only too glad to his dark eyes looking into hers showed amusement that tanis always so eager for masculine company was now satisfied with the sample leitha had provided they also said that it was up to leitha whether the swimming session was prolonged or not leinhas Lei thas eyes thanked him perhaps she thought this setting so bad after all justin did not have to say anything to show to whom he ha was attached he was always as near her as he could manage and with andres chivalry so much more natural than any rich could ever hope to contrive rich ought to realize that he no longer was the lone male on her horizon if rich wants to swim we can all stay down a while longer leitha said 1 I take it rich murmured that you are off duty then th en louder sounds great to me and I 1 happen to have a pair of trunks thanks just the same andy you wont mind I 1 hope my calling you andy anyway the trunks are in my bag I 1 believe the chauffeur took it inside As soon as I 1 can locate it ill be back no dont bother bo therl he raised a restraining hand as andres started to speak 1 I hope I 1 wont get lost he turned to stride oft off in the direction of the house before anyone could make an offer to accompany him leitha hes gor gorgeous ageous tanis exclaimed he is sweet charlene Charl cne still clutching the pools edge agreed her anxious eyes were on her sons face it was plain to anyone to see that just justin in did not think rich sweet or gorgeous rich is okay leitha said briefly have you asked andres said if the W in captain hauers hallers name does stand for Weri weather not that it matters except to un uncle cle mason it would please him no end no she leitha replied ill let mr tannahill Tanna hUl ask that question himself she said it was almost the first question the old gentleman did ask after 4 t j I 1 richard Weri weather was my fathers uncle rich had been presented to him in the living room before dinner richard Weri weather was my fathers uncle rich affirmed 1 I was named after him I 1 am even supposed to have some of his inventive genius this relationship with a man mason tannahill had admired and a family he knew and approved was all that was needed to make him accept and like the young captain they talked tor for a long while about richs great uncle and his father to everybody surprise justin suddenly blurted out 1 I cant see any sense to all this ancestor and family business its not the folks you come from its who and what a man or woman is that counts 10 justin defends A poor nurse poor justin leitha thought she would have to do something about him for she realized that he thought he was defending her a girl who had no ancestors to brag about heritage counts old mr tan insisted true enough rich said quickly but I 1 agree with your nephew sir im proud enough of my people but I 1 certainly dont overrate them mason tannahill s keen eyes rist rest flushed face A silk purse cannot be wrought from a sows bows ear he be murmured environment and fa family mily mean nothing justin insisted A man or woman should be accepted because they are acceptable in themselves the place they came from which side of the track should not count his gaze now came to rest so openly on the young nurses face that anyone could read what he was thinking it if he related to the Tanna hills loved a girl who came from nowhere who worked tor for her living he would defy the world to prove her heras as good as he and the Tanna hills why justina Jus charlene Cb arlene gasped 1 I never heard you talk so before I 1 do de declare clarel justin now has an inspiration andres said with a smile am I 1 not right my boy leave me alone cant you justin muttered leitha was relieved when dinner was announced at what was in her opinion an opportune moment mason tannahill with something of a flourish said that he would allow captain haller to take leitha in to dinner leitha and I 1 get on famously he said As you no doubt have gathered young man she has us all practically eating out of her hand she has indeed rich murmured in as dry a manner as andres ever assumed so this is it he said to leitha later that evening after seeing her patient back to his quarters she had returned downstairs to find rich standing at the open front doorway looking out into the star studded night lets take a walk in the garden she suggested ignoring his remark whatever you say rich returned gruffly 1 I could do with a little fresh air she thought he no longer is in a soft mood he is in a decidedly belligerent one he had been polite enough during the long evening but he had not been anything more he had not been at all impressed not with the many coursed dinner the display of gleaming crystal and shining in silver nor No again ragain when andres had played rich did not care as she knew for long haired music he had in fact been slightly irritated by everything beneath the polite surface it was lovely in the garden there was the heavy fragrance of night blooming flowers the soothing influence of soft air the canopy of dark sky studded with stars leitha hated to break the silence it was so peaceful but she went back to his remark in the hall what is it she asked so this is being a luxury nurse rich said she did not like the way he be said it her pride made her answer stiffly 1 I dont know what you mean then you must be dumb ducky his tone was grim it if you think this job looks like a snap just because you found me at the swimming pool this afternoon youre very much mistaken leitha told rich its not all playtime my boy twice my patient has nearly died I 1 have just finished a tau tough h job of pulling him through by a thread I 1 had to be on duty practically twenty four hours a day you are now enjoying your reward rich said his tone was not ot quite so curt but it remained unconvinced anyone could pardonably mistake you for a glamour gal my sweet with all the endowments and encumbrances even to the male chorus doing their dance routine so andres and justin and marked attention to her h hadl a d gal escaped him lata la 7 TA mr tannahill Is a lavy leitha said by way of reply he likes for me to have a little recreation he thinks I 1 earn it and it does help ones morale you know since when has your morale needed a lift rich asked what say we sit a while I 1 spy a summerhouse or whatever you call such objects in kingdoms like this you need not be so green with envy she said as they sat down t in the summerhouse rich snorted envy I 1 have this shebang and its entourage of hired help for any consideration the old gents not so bad you have to feel kind of sorry tor for him anyone with as much filthy lucre as he has accumulated rich considers justins justin s plight why leitha interrupted this was exactly the attitude she had known he would take but now it held personal implications although he could not know that because the world is changing rich said his sort are outnumbered deadwood no one has a right to so much wealth and power those had been leinhas Lei thas thoughts too they still were yet it made a difference that they were now discussing her grandfather herself one day perhaps she said a person do good with power and wealth you know the flaws in equal division divide everything and it would not be long until some would have more than others acquired by the individuals vi own initiative and persistence in other words it is all too true that the poor will always be with u us S 11 yes rich agreed but no one man should have more than he or his offspring could possibly spend oi or even hand out to his selected charities while another labors and worries and skimps throughout all ot of his too brief existence I 1 dont know the answer but I 1 do know as our young friend justin declared s heatedly that it right 9 hes sure got it bad he added changing to a lighter tone leitha was not anxious to discuss the way justin felt about her he just thinks he has her tone was light hes been away so long I 1 just happened to be the first girl he met when he came back lily for him rich returned he dug in his pocket for a cigarette and match unless you decide hes too good a bet to pass up it to pass up right the flare of the match showed his set expression no sensible girl and you are sensible lee should pass up such an opportunity to get in on this show permanently ly I 1 mean I 1 take it that justin stands in line to inherit sor 1 sol 1 portion of this kingdom 10 TO BE CONTINUED |