© Ben Ames Willlamas,
SYNOPSIS
Barbara Sentry, seeking to sober up her
escort, Johnnie Boyd, on the way home from
& party, slaps him, and attracts the atten-
tion of a policeman, whom the boy knocks
down. As he arrests him, Professor Brace
of Harvard comes to the rescue and drives
Barbara home. On the way they see Bar:
bara’s father driving from the direction of
his office at 12:45, but when he gets home
he tells his wife it is 11:15 and that he's
been playing bridge at the club. Next morn-
ing, while Barbara is telling her mother
about her adventure, an urgent phone call
comes from Mr. Sentry's office after his de-
parture. Arriving home in the late after-
noon, Sentry reports his office has been
robbed and a Miss Wines, former temporary
employee, killed. The evening papers lurid-
ly confirm the story, and Sentry takes it
hard. Mary, elder daughter, in love with
Neil Ray, young Interne at the hospital
where she works, goes off to dinner at Gus
Loran's, Sentry's partner, with Mrs. Loran's
brother, Jimmy Endle. Mr. and Mrs Sentry
cald on old Mrs. Sentry, and Barbara, alone,
receives Dan Fisher, reporter, who advises
her not to talk. Phil Sentry, son at Yale, is
disturbed at the possible implications and
suspicion of Miss Wines’ absence from her
rooms for three days during August.
CHAPTER II—Continued
—
He decided to go home for a day
or two; to surprise them. He
dressed, packed his bag, had break-
fast, and took a train for Boston. If
he had sent word ahead, old Eli
would have met him; but since Phil
did not do so, there was no one at
the station. A taxi would have taken
/him quickly home, but as though he
shad himself been guilty of some
misdemeanor, he was suddenly re-
luctant to face them all. To put
'off the hour of that encounter, he
walked over to Trinity Place and
waited for a suburban train that
would deposit him near his home.
He remembered that his grandmoth-
er, old Mrs. Sentry, always came
out for Sunday dinner and stayed
through the afternoon and for sup-
per, and he was glad she would be
there. She was always sensible
and shrewd,
The train arrived and he got
aboard, and after the short run
alighted. It was dusk when, bag
in hand, he set out to walk to his
home, his feet lagging miserably.
Then a car pulled in at the curb
beside him, and someone called in
a laughing tone; “Carry your bag,
Mister? Taxi, Mister?"
It was Linda Dane. There had
been comradeship between them, a
real affection, since they were chil-
dren. He tossed his bag into the
rumble, climbed in beside her.
“Hullo, Lin,” he said, gripping
her hand. “Gosh, I'm glad to see
you!”
“Me too,” she agreed. “Where've
you been? Where you going? What
are you home for?’ She hesitated.
“Oh, this beastly thing in the. pa-
pers, of course. Isn't it rotten! I
hope they get whoever did it and
just—just skin him alive. But it's
a shame you all have to be dragged
into it!” She touched his hand.
“Never mind. It won't last long.
I'll take you home. How's Joe?"
“Fine,” Phil told her. “Saw him
yesterday.”
“Wasn't it wonderful that you
fwon? The game must have been just
thrilling.” She turned into his street.
“Drive around a while, can you?”
‘he asked. “I don’t want to go in
yet.”
She looked at him quickly. “Phil?
Are you in a jam?” She laughed
softly. “Is it something disgrace-
ful? Shouldn't I be seen with you?”
“Oh, no. I just want to—"'
They passed his home without
stopping and went on. “Where shall
I drive?” she asked,
“Around the park, James!” he
told her, grinning; and he asked,
“Lin, how are they all taking it?"
She hesitated. “Pretty hard, I'm
afraid.”
“How's Barb?”
“lI was with her when she first
saw the papers. She was scared,
Phil. But she’s trying to—keep them
cheered up now.”
“Sare! She would!”
“I went home with her. She hoped
you would come.”
“I thought I'd better.” He said:
“You and Barb and I will have to
stick together, We always have,
haven't we?”
“Always have,” she
“Three Musketegrs.”
“You always were the level-head-
ed one. I'm glad I ran into you
now. I'll be needing you, Lin.”
“I'll be around. But I've got to
take you home, now, Phil. I'm
due for supper.”
“Right! Sorry if I've made you
late. I was sort of scared to go in.
As if it were my fault.”
Every holy 's that way. When
anything happens, you always want
to say, ‘I didn’t do it!"
He chuckled, clasped her hand
where it lay on the wheel. “You're
a good Lin. De said, a Bittle
surprised at himse’
he said this, glad he had said it.
“You used to call me a brat!”
““You used to be one,”
agreed.
She looked straight ahead, smil-
ing faintly, ‘You need someone to
take along, Phil,” she said gently.
“You're not a very steady craft,
yourself, when high seas are rum-
ning."
“I know. A good time is apt to
go to my head. You've brought me
down to earth more than once.”
She chuckled. “Both feet on the
ground?”
“Funny,” he reflected, “that you
and I have never been—sentimental
about each other. I kid around with
other girls, and probably you have
your moments too. But we don't
get that way. I wonder why.”
“1 wonder,” she echoed, eyes on
the road.
“We're just darned good friends.
But whenever I've got anything on
my mind, I like to talk it over with
you.”
“Me too,” she agreed, and swung
into the drive in front of his house.
“Here we are, Phil.” She stopped
the car and looked at him, waiting
for him to get out; and he looked
at her, and hesitated, and after a
moment she laughed softly and
asked, “Is this what you're think-
ing?” And leaned toward him.
He kissed her. “Thanks, Lin,”
“Since you took up nursing you're
keen on symptoms! No wonder doe-
tors’ families always have some-
thing the matter with them, with
someone like you around.”
There was a moment's silence:
and then Mr. Sentry asked quietly,
‘Sure there's nothing wrong, Phil?”
“No, father. I just felt like seeing
you all.”
And Grandmother Sentry demand-
ed, “Why shouldn't he come home
if he wants to, Arthur?”
Mr. Sentry said, “Well, after all,
college is his job right now.’”” The
doorbell rang, and Barbara went to
answer it. “But of course we're
glad to see you, Phil.”
There were voices in the hall.
They watched the door. Then Bar-
bara came back, pale terror in her
eyes. “Father, it's Inspector Irons,”
she said in low tones, “He-—""
The Inspector, without waiting,
came in past her; and a second man
followed him. Mr. Sentry stood up,
holding to the back of his chair. The
second man stopped at his elbow.
Mr. Sentry said, “Good evening, In-
spector.”
The Inspector said, “Mr. Sentry,
I'll ask you to come along with me.”
Phil stared at his father, felt his
25
he said. *“That helps a lot. I dread
going in.”
“Poor Phil.
she bade him.
bye!”
She drove away, and he carried
his bag up the steps and—since the
door was always locked—rang. Os-
car and Nellie were out on Sunday
evenings, so it was Barbara who
came to the door.
“Phil!” she cried.
She caught him and kissed him.
He felt her tremble and held her
and whispered:
“Hey, Barb! You're shaking.”
“Oh, I'm so darned glad you've
come, Phil,”" she murmured. “To-
day's been awful!”
Mrs. Sentry called from the din-
ing room, “Is that you, Phil?” He
winked at Barbara reassuringly,
and went in.
His mother said, “We're just sit-
ting down.” She looked at him
searchingly. Phil saw that his fa-
ther was almost haggard; thought
these last two days must have been
a strain. *““We didn't expect you,”
his mother added. “Is anything
wrong, Phil?”
“Gosh, no,” he protested. “I saw
the papers, thought you might need
me.”
“Isn't it exciting, Phil?” Barbara
cried,
Mrs. Sentry said sharply, “Bar-
bara! Don’t talk like a shop girl!”
Barbara hesitated; she said al-
most pleadingly: “I'm sorry, moth-
er! I'm just trying to—be the com-
ic relief or something. We're all so
gloomy. Can’t we be a little cheer-
ful, please?”
“It's hardly a time for cheerful-
ness,” her mother retorted.
Phil, beginning to eat, said hur-
riedly: “I've only seen the papers. Is
there anything that isn’t in them?”
Mrs. Sentry answered him. “No,
Phil. At least, nothing that we
know. Of course the police are do-
Keep your chin up,”
“And-—come see me,
own cheeks stiffen. Mr. Sentry
licked his lips. “Where to, Inspec-
tor?” he asked, in a hoarse voice.
“After all, it's Sunday evening—"'
The Inspector hesitated uncom-
fortably. “I'd rather talk about it
at Headquarters,” he said. *““That
will be easier, all around.”
Then the other man touched Mr.
Sentry’'s arm.
For a moment after the man in
plain clothes touched Mr. Sentry’'s
arm, the room was still as ice.
Then Mr. Sentry nodded, almost
with relief; and he said quietly to
Mrs. Sentry, “I'll have to go, El-
len.” To Phil: “You can take moth-
er in town when she's ready.”
Phil nodded, and looked toward
old Mrs. Sentry, and he uttered a
low ejaculation. Her head had
dropped forward, her chin was rest-
ing on her chest, and her eyes were
closed. At his exclamation, Mary
went quickly toward the older wom-
an, and Mrs. Sentry without moving
said, “Barbara, get my smelling
salts!” Barbara darted up the
stairs,
Inspector Irons spoke to Mr. Sen-
try; they moved away. Mrs. Sen-
try tried to follow; but she seemed
to stumble, and stopped. Only Phil
went with his father out into the
hall; and, standing in the open door-
way, he saw Mr. Sentry get into the
police car, into the rear seat. In-
stractedly the radio antenna, like
an old-fashioned buggy whip, pro-
jecting above the roof.
in a dull way that his father must
be crowded in the narrow seat;
since the Inspector was a big man,
and so was his companion.
drove away.
When Phil went back
house, into the dining-room,
into the
old
asked, “All right, grandmother?”
“All right? Of course I'm all
right,” she said sharply.
right all the time. 1 just did it to
give you all something to think
about. You were standing around
“Your color's come back,” Phil
commented.
Mrs. Sentry rose, and she said in
a low tone, thinking of the serv-
ants, “Come into the living-room.”
They followed her quietly, not
speaking, not daring to speak. The
others sat down, but Phil remained
standing. His cheeks were still stiff;
his lips felt thick and clumsy. Yet
~here were four of them, four wom-
en, his sisters, his mother, his
grandmother. He was the only man:
he must do something, say some-
thing . . .
He said, groping: “How about a
rubber of bridge You don't want
to go home yet, do you, grand-
mother?"
Old Mrs. Sentry said sharply:
“Don’t be an idiot, Phil! Don't try
to stick your head in the sand. All
our heads. Face the fact! They
think your father killed that girl!”
Barbara gasped, looking from one
to another, her eyes beseeching
them to deny this. Mrs. Sentry
made an indignant sound: and Phil
argued unconvincingly: “Oh, I don't
think so! They probably just want
some more information or some-
thing. Maybe they've arrested some-
one and want father to identify
him."
“Nonsense! I'm too old
myself, or to be fooled!”
Barbara's eyes were streaming,
yet she made no sound. Mary was
red as flame. Mrs. Sentry said re-
sentfully, “But mother, you surely
don't believe—""
The older woman said curtly:
“The police aren't fools! If they
have arrested Arthur, be sure they
had good reason!"
“lI hope you won't talk like that
before outsiders!"
“Outsiders!” Grandmother Sentry
snorted. “Ellen, you're a plain
snob!"
“lI have some pride!” Mrs. Sen-
try said composedly.
“This will shake it out of you!”
the old woman predicted, almost
with a relish. “I don't know wheth-
to fool
der to me he hasn't got mixed up
with some woman long ago. I don't
know how he lives in the same
house with you and your pride!”
Mrs. Sentry smiled patiently,
thinking: She was always a scold, a
harridan, I suppose she was pret-
ty, and Arthur's father lost his head
and married her.
Barbara staring at them both
through tears, and she protested,
“Really, mother!"
gently: “There, Ellen, I'm sorry!
pose. After all"
one came up the steps and rang
the bell. Phil cried in a great re-
lief, “There, he’s back already!”
He went to the door, the two girls
on his heels.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
The helicopter would prove inval-
uable as a war defense machine
should the United States enter
armed conflict, Ivan Eremeef!, Phil-
adelphia inventor, believes, writes
a Philadelphia correspondent in the
Los Angeles Times.
Eremeeff said the vertical
ascending craft “is ideal for obser-
use the helicopter extensively, main.
ly by picking up dead and wounded
from battlefields, Eremeeff said.
The inventor, who supervised the
eonstruction of the first successful
helicopter for the United States
army eighteen years ago, believes
that the big problem in helicopter
design lies in control.
Spears: —1 want
to thank
diagram of how to hang draw cur-
we have casement windows and
view. 1 wonder if you would help
me with another problem? 1 do
the rest of the house, Thought 1
would buy ruffled net ones. Do
J oT
Here is a suggestion
monplace?
Answer:
By
RUTH WYETH
SPEARS
will make your windows little
different from those of your neigh-
your rooms. Double curtain rods
are needed to give the crossed ef.
| fect and a valance board is added
Here the valance is the sort that
comes with ready made curtains
and the top is folded back to make
| it double. In thumbtacking it to
| the valance board, do not stretch
|it—just “ease it on’ so that it
| hangs well. If you feel that the
| windows* need color, the valance
{and tie backs may be of plain
glazed chintz that repeats the
strongest color in your room color
| scheme. A contrasting valance
i may be either plain or gathered.
Let Father and Young Son and
Little Sister help you make the
home a center of interest. Book
1-SEWING, for the Home Deco-
rator contains many useful things
that every one may take a hand
in making. 300k 2 shows you
with pictures how to make many
novelty gifts. Books are 25 cents
each. Order both books today and
get the patchwork quilt leaflet pie-
turing 36 authentic embroidery
stitches free. Mrs,
Spears, 210 S. Desplaines St., Chi-
i cago, Ill.
Address:
Items of Interest
2 to the Housewife
TORT
ribbons and iron them between tis-
sue paper.
* * *
You may not like vividly colored
clothes, but they are the safest
thing to wear in traffic. It is ad-
visable to dress children in such
costumes to help protect them
from accidents.
* * *
Save Salty Water.—When water
salt has been boiling is
it makes good
longer and improves bad
in which
y
poured over coal,
coal last
coal.
. +
ought to be selected
Short ones cramp toes
eventually make them
cooked. Too long ones wrinkle
and twist, irritating toes and
heels. Also, children should be
taught to wear a fresh pair of
stockings each morning. Don’t al-
low your youngsters to wear ga-
loshes in the house or classroom.
* . *
stockings
carefully.
and will
Keeping Paint.—If a can of
paint has to be left open, stir it
thoroughly, so as to dissolve all
the oil, then fill up with water.
the paint pour off the water and
you will find it as fresh as when
first opened.
* 4 .
When Cooking Greens, — If a
nutmeg is added to the water in
which any kind of greens are be-
the winter, bore
or more from the
Where only a few apples
layers three or four deep in shal-
Salt Improves Coffee.—The fla-
vor of coffee is improved if a little
| salt is sprinkled on the bottom of
| the pot before the coffee is put in.
* » -
| Flowers and Vase for Sick.—1It is
| an excellent idea when sending
| cut flowers to a hospital to send
| an inexpensive vase with them.
| Nurses often find it difficult to find
vases enough to hold flowers.
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