Atlanta Daily World

Chapter Deb thought of the man in the cutting garden and she recalled Ingrid's impassioned. "I don't know what to do. . . . It's driving me crazy." That had been before the tragedy in the game house, if she couldn't then have been worrying about his implication in that. Ought she to tell Molly B. what she had overheard? No. She had said, "I shall wait for her solution without questioning." "I wonder if I ever will be as wise, as sure, as poised as you are, Molly B." "I'm not so very wise, as to poise-years ago I learned a little prayer. God grant me Serenity to accept things I cannot change, Courage to change things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.' That has been a reliable beam to follow through dark days." "Serenity to accept things I cannot change, Courage to change things I can.' that last is a thought to keep one fighting, Molly B." 'Sandy McGregor was here this morning." The statement derailed Debs train of thought. 'I promised to give four parties for the GIs and their wives. He thinks that a bit of social whirl will clear He she made progress in solving it?" I put the same question He shook his head I asked him if each member of this household was still under suspicion. He said. Someone did it'-as if I had to be reminded of that-then added his stock phrase. We'll come back to that later.'" "As a quiz master you wouldn't burn up the air waves, Molly B. Didn't he say anything more?" Just at that moment Scragg entered to tell me I was wanted on long distance." "Were you?" Whoever it was had rung off." 'I'll bet there was no call. That butler is like a stock character in a movie, always entering at a climactic moment." Maybe. but he's a crackajack butler. He was trained at the Danes'. When they could no longer afford him he applied to me." "Light breaks. That was why he was whispering to Stella the evening before Ingrid's nightmare." "I can't imagine the saturnine Scragg whispering to anyone, but he has known Stella since she was a little girl. He may have a smoldering affection for her, feel a certain loyalty to the family. You'd better call on that homesick wife in the trailer and invite the couple to the first party next week." In spite of Ingrid's protest? It was a protest. That phone ring was an excuse for an exit, wasn't it?" 'We'll leave Ingrid and her reactions out of it. Call on the young woman tomorrow, How was the Country Club?" "Super. The music was out of this world. Excellent food. A crowd, but a nice crowd. Your secretary was among those present looking like a dreamboat." "I knew she was dining with her brother." "Brother! Has she promised to be a sister to Burke Romney?" "Was she with him? It is not Copyright 1947 by Leslie Loring my responsibility with whom she goes out, I would prefer she didn't lie to me. but I have discovered recently that she has done it quite often. She said she wanted to spend the night at home and asked for today off that she might help her brother with accounts. I assumed it had to do with the foreclosure of the mortgage. Did you dance?" "Once. then Tim was paged for a phone call." Better not tell that his face was drained of color under its bronze when he returned to the table. "He explained that the call was on important business, brought me home, then shot off in his roadster. he didn't say whither. Hold tight to your chair. This item will make the room whirl, He has asked me to be his secretary." "Heavenly day, why you? There must be at least half a dozen experts in his kind of work already at the Center." "He claimed he had a tough day yesterday because the secretary pro tem. bungled his appointments. It isn't a permanent job he offers, only until he gets the executive machinery under control What do you think of it?" "Because the progress of the Center and Tim's success as the Head is very near my heart, I say YES in capitals if you are willing to do it" "That settles it. I'll sign on the dotted line. Did you know he has gone all out for a girl?" "I suspected it. My study of motives behind actions has helped me understand the human heart- at least, my fans believe I understand it-I have seen that one-woman-in-the-world-for-me look in Tim's eyes." "It's your imagination-plus getting in its work. How could you see it? She's still in the Pacific -not the ocean-the theater." "What does that prove? Wouldn't be be likely to think of the girl he loves? Wouldn't thinking of her bring that look to his eyes?" "Hold everything, Molly B. I guess you're right. Who am I to question an authority on romance? As you approve I'll phone Tim I'll take over. he wanted an immediate decision. He didn't wait for me to answer last night he was in such a hurry to get away. Too late to reach him at the office, isn't it?" "He and Sophy and Mark are dining here. Break the good news to him then." They were having coffee after dinner in the library. The royal-blue hangings were drawn across the long windows. A brilliant dancing-dervish type of fire twisted and whirled, flamed and flared. made little whispering sounds and threw fantastic patterns on Molly B.'s emerald-green frock. Ingrid in bronze lame presided at the low table with its silver appointments. Sophy in mauve was at the piano playing softly, Greig's "I Love Thee." Mark Taylor on the bench beside her was turning the music in response to her nod Tim joined Deb on the sofa. "What's the color of your frock?" "Flame. Like it?" "Suits me and what is more to the point. it's perfect for you. Having made which introductory. complimentary remarks, do I get a secretary "How can I resist such a high pressure salesman? You do." "Good girl.Start tomorrow?" "Do you need me so soon?" That's the idea, Hours nine to five with time out for lunch, and Saturday afternoons off. No five-day week yet. Better have Molly B.'s chauffeur drive you to the Center and call for you." "That's a wacky suggestion. You don't want a working girl, Marine, you're looking for what the columnists dub a socialite. When the weather is good I shall walk back and forth, and drive myself when it is bad." "That appears to settle that- for the present." He rose and leaned his arm on the corner of the mantel "Heard the news, Molly B, about Lander's will?" It seemed to Deb as if each person in the room stiffened 'No, Tim. What has he done with his money? Wills fascinate me. Often they reveal the secrets of a person's life. his loves and his animosities. perhaps secrets which have been buried deep in his heart for years "Lander's does He cuts out a wife who deserted him." He stopped to light a cigarette Anyone here have a suspicion he had one?" He was looking through half closed eyes at Sophy Brandt. " who appeared as startled as if the floor had opened and the judge himself had appeared. "Yes." Ingrid Johnson declared hoarsely. She rose. Two deep red spots burned on her high cheekbones. Her eyes were black with intensity. "I was his wife when I came here to live with you as a secretary, Molly B. Remember that he recommended me?" Molly Burton Stewart nodded and put her hand to her throat as if it were too constricted to let her voice through "I hated the deception Thank God I can tell the truth now. He raged when I insisted upon telling you. He feared that the fact he was married would bog down his career. I was young enough, he was a lot older than I. and fascinated enough to agree to the secrecy until I came here. Then I refused to consider myself his wife while living in your house under false pretenses. Two months later he went to Reno for a divorce, grounds desertion. Since then, we have spoken to one another as seldom as possible." "That was years ago, Ingrid. How could you keep the secret without telling me?" "That was one of the conditions. Neither one of us was to let you know. As time went on the almost irresistible urge to confide in you died down, the marriage seemed like something that belonged in a dream world. For two years I have suspected that he was scheming to marry you, Molly B., to strengthen his hand here at the college. Had I seen an indication that he would succeed I would have told you the story. I hope-I hope it won't break our friendship." She bit her lips hard to steady them. (To Be Continued) Mary L. Kane Evening Gazette