Then a sweeter, saner memory clamored for attention. She heard again his
fond, husky voice caressing her, his “Dear little Sally!” And
involuntarily her mouth pursed in memory of his kiss, that kiss that had
left her giddy with delight.
How unfailingly kind and sweet he had been since that first day, when he
had strode into her life, with the sun on his chestnut hair and the
glory of the sun in his eyes. He had not failed her once, but she was
failing him now, by doubting him, by picturing him as a fugitive in the
dark, fleeing with a pair of criminals who had robbed the man whose
kindness had protected him from the law.
Why, she must be crazy to think for a moment that David could do a thing
like that! No one in the world was as good and kind and honorable as
David.
But where was he? Mrs. Bybee had left him to guard the train. Not for a
moment could she believe that he had failed in his trust. Painfully,
Sally tried to visualize the dreadful thing that had happened. David
alone, patrolling the train, his eyes sharp for intruders. Then—the
sudden appearance of Nita and the man, Steve, weighted down with the
contents of the safe they had robbed. For Sally knew that the robbery
must have taken place before David caught his first glimpse of the
crooks. Otherwise the safe would be intact now, even if David’s dead
body had been found as silent witness that he had fulfilled his trust.
Her mind shuddered away from that imagined picture, went back to the
painful reconstruction of what must have taken place. David had seen
them, had given chase. Of course! Otherwise he would be here now. Was he
still pursuing them, or was he lying somewhere near the road, wounded,
his splendid young body ignominiously flung into a cornfield?
She could bear no more, could no longer lie safe in her berth while
David needed her somewhere. Very carefully, for all her haste, she
lifted the tiny body that nestled against her side and laid it tenderly
upon the pillow, which was big enough to serve as a mattress for the
midget. Then, sobbing soundlessly, she groped for her shoes in the
little green hammock swung across the windows; found them, put them on,
slipped to the edge of the berth. She was profoundly thankful that the
girls had not undressed her after she had fainted.
When she reached the car in which Mr. and Mrs. Bybee occupied a
stateroom she saw the showman and his wife through the open door,
talking to two strangers whom she guessed to be plainclothes policemen
from police headquarters of Capital City. The two men were evidently
about to leave, nodding impatiently that they understood, when Sally
appeared, like a frightened, pale little ghost in green-and-white
striped gingham.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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