Partners

by Grace Livingston Hill

  He went carefully over his own conduct. Had he always protected her in every way? Had he ever done anything that would make her feel embarrassed to be doing this work for him, or with him? He hoped not. Yet he knew there had been times when he would have loved to cry out and tell her how lovely she was!

  He hadn't been keen after girls, like other fellows. His job had been for the present to look after his mother, and if there were to be girls in his life, a girl, he had felt they would come later. He had sometimes admired Pat Ragan, the keen girl reporter for The Blade, and even Madge Barron, with her red hair and her comically smart speeches, but they both were special friends of other men among his associates, and he hadn't either the time or the taste to go to some of their rowdy parties. He had never really got intimate with any of them, a joke now and then, good friendliness, but that was all. He had thought that when his mother came she would make a home, then there would be a place to bring friends like that when he found some he liked especially.

  He sighed as he thought about it now, speeding along among the clouds, looking down on a moonlit world all in white, with now and then a city spattered with Christmas lights.

  Suddenly it came to him how he would like to tell his mother about Dale. He could think of the questions she would ask, and how he would answer them. He would have so liked to take Dale home to see his mother, if there were any home and Mother hadn't gone away to live with God.

  He closed his eyes and tried to rest, but the picture of the girl and the little child kept coming to his mind, as something sweet to which he was going back. Would they both be there and be the same?

  It seemed to him that he had been away from them for months. He wondered now why he had consented to go. Of course, it was something that his chief had asked, and his chief had just been promoting him and had honored him by asking him to take this assignment. He couldn't in conscience refuse, especially as he felt that upon this man's interest hung the needed money he must have if he took care of that child.

  Was he going to be allowed to take care of him, to count him his? He had learned at the police headquarters the possibilities of adoption, its rules and regulations. A certain time must elapse to search for possible relatives. Well, there seemed no likelihood that any relatives would interfere in a matter like that. But if they did not and he got control of the child, how was he going to care for it? Hire a nurse perhaps, an older woman, and set up a sort of disjointed household?

  It was too deep and too troublesome a question to answer now, going through the white night to find those two who had been in his heart ever since he had gone away. It was something that would just have to work out step by step as he came to it.

  Thinking back over the days when the baby was so sick and he and the girl worked side by side to save that little breath of a life, he wondered the more at himself that he had consented to leave it all until he was sure that the baby was safely through with that fight with death. He wished he hadn't left the girl to fight it alone. Yet she wasn't alone, of course, with the doctor and nurse, both the best of their kind.

  And then as he watched the moon pale and the dawn come softly over the rim of the world, and he knew that he was nearing his goal, he began to be strangely excited.

  Would it all be the same when he got there? Would the girl be glad to see him? Would the baby be all right?

  And if the baby was all right, what were they going to do next? There was just one thing of which he was sure, and that was that he did not intend to let that little baby boy go into any kind of an institution to be perhaps bullied around by bigger, tougher boys, not while he was little and frail anyway, and not able to hold his own. No, that baby was his job. It had been dropped at his very feet, and it had been given back to him in answer to his prayer, and it was his job to look after the little chap, if God suffered him to live. He would teach him to grow up a good man and not be sorry that he had been saved from death.

  And there in the sky between the dying night and the dawning day George Rand felt himself to be in the presence of the Most High God, and most amazingly, he suddenly knew that God loved him, personally, and was waiting for him to consent to fellowship with Him. He was conscious that the only thing between them was his own sin, and the greatest of all the sin loomed now as indifference to God! But he also knew, for his mother had done her best to teach him, that all that sin of his that stood between him and his God, was already laid on the person of Another. For the first time, though he had known it before, George Rand saw Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hanging there on a cross, nailed there by his, George Rand's, own sin.

  Humbly, with broken heart, he made his wordless confession to God. Then with dawning peace in his heart he sat and thought it all over. Why had he never had this personal dealing with God before? It was not till God had taken everything else from him and sent that little freezing child to make him see what he needed, that he had been willing to pay attention.

  So, in the early darkness, coming swiftly toward the landing field, he prayed.

  And at the very end, as the swift-winged airplane began to slide down the air to the landing field, he added to his prayer, And, oh Lord, bless her--!

  Chapter 15

  The dawn had broken as the plane landed, and Rand took a taxi and drove the familiar way down through the streets he knew so well.

  The sun was coming up in a great glorious crimson ball to take the place of the many colored neon lights that had illuminated the night. Those were now but dull garlands of pastel shades, paling more and more as the sun grew brighter, and creating a garish effect of summer and daytime stepping in where evergreen and holly should have sway.

  But Rand's heart was glad as he looked about on the glistening snow, which glowed almost bloodred where the sun was touching it full. The scene seemed to fill him with wonder and delight.

  It was quite a journey from the airport to the apartment house where he had left Dale and the baby, and he was all impatience until as he drew nearer, he was filled with fear and a great dismay.

  What if the baby should be worse? What if it would be gone? He thought of the little white dead mother and the small headstone with the mysterious letters on it. Only God knew what they stood for. He shrank from the thought that perhaps the baby might have to be laid away beside her.

  Oh, God! his heart cried out. Oh, my own new God! You have heard me once. Hear me again! Do Thy will for us all, Thy best will and blessing, Lord!

  And then they were at the apartment house, which seemed as plain and real as it had before he left. He looked up its simple surface to the windows of the seventh story and wondered, were they there? How foolish he was! And how strange and shy he felt, as if somehow it were all a dream that he was trying to act out. He had never thought of himself as a fool before. He had always thought himself sane and cool, and here he was actually trembling at the thought of going up in the elevator and knocking at the door. He might even have to sit down in the hallway and get cool before he went to face what was before him. Face what? A baby? Was that it? He knew better than that. He knew it was a girl he had to face. A wonderful girl!

  At least, he thought she was wonderful! He hoped she was wonderful! But he was afraid after this interval of hard work that he would come back to find out she had been just an ordinary girl like any girl he met every day. And he didn't want her to turn out that way.

  He owned to himself that he had carried her in his mind as an ideal, a dream girl. To discover that she was made of clay would be a desperate let down.

  The thrill of her voice over the telephone was still in his soul. It had seemed like having some of his own folks again to have her talk about the baby to him, as if they had a common interest.

  Well, he must pull himself up and get out of this fool state of mind, or he wouldn't be worth a cent. And probably there would be a lot of questions to decide. The trouble with him was he had overworked, sitting up till all hours to finish his writing. Getting it off by airmail. Half breaking his ne
ck to cover all the extras that had been suggested. He knew they expected him to stay longer and do several special features while he was out there, articles that were of general interest but needed a special handling, and he had done it all in between the important features he had gone out there to cover. He had worked a great deal harder than he had to, just so that he might come home as soon as the convention was over instead of taking the two or three extra days his chief had suggested.

  And then this hunch that something was the matter! Maybe the baby was dead or dying! It wasn't like him to get that kind of hunch! He had been working too steadily and lost too much sleep. That was a fact. But then he had often done that. It was something more than hard work. It was the business of the girl and the baby that had got him.

  Well, here he was! The elevator door clanged open and he stepped out. Now! Now in a moment more he would know!

  He walked down the hall to the door and gave his special little fingertip tap, and almost instantly he heard Dale's soft footsteps. He wondered how it was that he was so sure it was Dale and not the heavier-footed nurse.

  Then the lock turned, and Dale was standing there.

  He gave one breathless look, and then he saw the stars in her eyes. Stars of gladness! He had been afraid to believe that she would be glad!

  She had come to the door, thinking it was the boy from the drugstore with something the nurse had ordered. Dale was wearing just an ordinary pleasant look. When she saw who was standing there the glory of a great gladness came into her face and made it radiant. She put out both her hands in a lovely welcoming gesture. Oh, she hadn't meant at all to look glad like that, just pleasantly glad when he came. But she didn't know what joy was in her face, what eagerness was in her eyes. And Rand's heart rose up with an answering gladness and put it into his eyes.

  He dropped the suitcase he was carrying and took both her hands in one of his, and his other arm went about her and drew her close. And then he stooped and laid his lips reverently on hers, and drew her close to his heart. Such tenderness, such gentleness, such preciousness! They stood so for several dear seconds, his lips at her lips, her eyelids, and whispering softly in her ear.

  They forgot that the door was wide open and his suitcase was dumped on the floor in the hall, forgot the nurse who might appear at any minute now. They even for a minute forgot the baby who had brought them together and might wake up any time and demand attention.

  "My dearest, I love you!" whispered Rand softly, and kissed her again, and her eyes lifted to his and gave their sweet answer in like words.

  Then suddenly the elevator shot up, far down the hall, and the gates clanged open, letting someone out. Footsteps came down the hall. All at once the two became conscious of the world about them.

  Rand's arms came down from that sweet enfolding, and he came to instant attention. He grabbed his suitcase from the hall and disappeared into the room, vanishing into the little kitchenette, from which stronghold he peered out cautiously.

  "Is that that ubiquitous nurse?" he asked in a scared comical whisper.

  But Dale with very rosy cheeks was twinkling her eyes at him, her mouth all made up in a cute little quirk of mirth as she backed into the room and shut the door softly, locking it with a definite noise.

  Then Rand came out of hiding and went over to her again, laying a hand on each of her shoulders, looking down deep into her eyes and then drawing her very close again in his arms.

  "I'm telling you I love you with all my heart, my sweet," he said, and his voice was throbbing with tenderness. "Do you mind, little Dale? Do you mind if I love you? Dear heart! This is the greatest thing that ever came to me. Are you listening, Dale? I want to ask you when you will marry me. Where is that nurse? Is she liable to come in on us any time?"

  "She's gone to get some sleep. She was up all night. I just heard her snoring," said Dale with a twinkle. "Oh George, it's so wonderful that you've come back! Somehow it didn't seem as if you ever would! And then when I thought you didn't telephone last night I began to think you had forgotten us. I began to think you were just a figment of my imagination."

  "You did?" he said in astonishment. "You darling! Why, that's just the way I felt. I couldn't believe there was such a girl as you, darling. You will marry me, won't you, dear? Tell me, and set my heart at rest. I've just been so lonely and so discourage!"

  "But, George, you don't know me at all. You've only seen me a few times!"

  "I've seen you all I need to see you to know you are the one I want to marry!" said George stubbornly. "But of course if you feel that way about me, why, we'll wait till you're ready. But, Dale, you kissed me as if you loved me! I'm not good enough for such a sweet girl as you are, but I'll make it up by loving you the more!"

  "I do love you," said Dale shyly. "But I really know you, you know. Didn't I watch you save that dear baby's life? Didn't I see how gentle you were? Didn't I know how you took care of us both and got the very best there was for us both, just two strange little foundlings, and you took us out of Mrs. Beck's terrible house and put us in this beautiful apartment, and got us a doctor and a nurse, and you stuck by and helped--"

  "Yes, but you forget, I loved you both! And you were taking care of the little baby that God let me find--"

  Then all at once from the other side of the room came another little voice, "Ahh! Goooo! Ahhh!"

  They both looked up in wonder and then with delight. They baby was talking to them in a sweet little voice as if he were giving his blessing. As if he had heard what they said and approved it. As if he wanted to get into the conversation, too.

  George pulled Dale to her feet, and with his arm around her and one of her hands in his they walked over to the crib.

  "How about it, fella? Do you approve my choice?"

  The baby looked at Rand as if he understood, looked at him almost as if he recognized him.

  "Ahhh! O-oooo! A-hggoo!" said the baby, ending with a little cheerful crow, like a well baby. And then he drew one corner of his mouth into the shadowy semblance of a smile.

  "Why, he's smiling at you, George! He's never done that before! He's never talked like that before!"

  "Yes, well, fella, I'm glad you bucked up and smiled for your daddy when he came, didn't you?"

  "Ahh-ooo-ahhh!" answered the baby looking earnestly at Rand.

  "And so you approve the lady I've selected to be your mommy, do you?"

  The baby looked at him solemnly.

  "Ahhh! Oooooo-ah!" said the baby, and suddenly gave a little lift to his small feet, tossing them up and ending with a cheery crow and a regular smile this time, with the dimples clearly showing.

  "Well, say, fella, you're a regular guy, aren't you?" said Rand, filled with delight. "Has he been doing these stunts right along?"

  "Oh, no," said Dale sadly. "He's been very sick. For two days we were frightened. Even the nurse looked grave and sent for the doctor. I think the doctor himself was worried. Didn't he tell you? That was last night when he answered the phone."

  "All he told me was that he had to hurry away to an operation and he would call me back when it was over. He said the baby was fine!"

  "Well, he didn't go to any operation. He stayed here all night. I know he was worried!"

  "Well, I had a hunch! And I'm glad I followed it out this time. But I was might uncomfortable until I decided to come home."

  "Well, I was very unhappy, too," said Dale in a small voice. "I thought maybe you had stopped caring for him, and I began to try to plan a way that I could perhaps take care of him."

  Rand drew her closer to him and looked down keenly into her eyes.

  "Then you really want him?" he said searchingly. "You won't feel he's a burden you have to have just because I want him?"

  "I really want him!" said Dale. "I love him."

  "And you won't feel after a time that I brought him in on you and spoiled our home and our life?"

  "How could I feel that way? Why, George, he's the one that brought us together. He'
s the angel God sent to introduce us!"

  "You dear!" said George, drawing her closer still and setting a slow reverent kiss on her brow.

  Then they could hear the nurse stirring about in her room now, and Dale ran lightly over by the baby, while Rand put on his most dignified air and stood looking out the window at the white, white world, but enchantment was shining in the eyes of both.

  "Oh, has Mr. Rand got back? That's nice," said the nurse, coming in with the air of being ready for work. "Why, I thought you said you were going to stay another day or two."

  "Well, you see, I got a hunch the baby was worse," said Rand with a sheepish smile, "so I just finished up my work as fast as I could and flew back."

  "Now can you beat that!" marveled the nurse. "He was worse again, pretty bad for a few hours, and I didn't know but we'd have to send for you, but we got the doctor and he brought him around in fine shape. But to think you'd feel that across a lot of miles! You must be sensitive to thought transference, aren't you?"

  Rand grinned shyly across at Dale.

  "Perhaps I am," he said amusedly. "I never realized it before. But it must have been something like that."

  Dale turned away quickly to hide her smile.

  "Well, how's my baby this morning? Is he awake yet?" asked the nurse going over to the crib.

  "Oh yes," said Dale. "He's been talking to us. You ought to hear him. It sounded as if he was really trying to say things."

  They all circled around the crib, and the baby was greatly intrigued. He looked up and fixed his big blue eyes on Rand, and remarked quite casually, just as if he knew he was being the center of admiration, "Ahhh! O-ooo-ah!"

  "Well," said the nurse in a tone of deep satisfaction, "he's better, and no mistake now! He never did that before, did he?"

  "No," said Dale, smiling. "It seemed as if he recognized Mr. Rand. He gave several little sorts of crows to him, and he really smiled and showed his dimples."