Free Dawn of a New Day by Gilbert Morris Page A

point, his caresses became so objectionable that Prue jerked herself away and said, “Keep your hands to yourself, Leon! This is a public place!” He grabbed her hand and grinned. “We’ll go to a private place then after the show.”
    The private place proved to be something called the Blue Moon. When they pulled up in front, suddenly Prue remembered something. “Wait a minute!” she said as Dicus prepared to get out. “I’m not going in that place. That’s where Bobby Stuart got into trouble and Maggie Satterfield was attacked.”
    â€œYou don’t have to worry about that, baby. I been here before. I can handle any trouble that comes.”
    Against her better judgment, and protesting all the way, Prue was dragged inside the nightclub. As soon as she stepped inside and looked around, her heart sank, and she knew she had made a terrible mistake.

    Mark was up late studying; his parents had already gone to bed. He jumped when the phone went off right behind his head on the kitchen wall. Leaping up, he wondered who could be calling at eleven o’clock at night.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œMark—?”
    â€œPrue, is that you?”
    â€œWhy—yes. Mark, I need you.”
    Mark clutched the phone harder and said, “What’s the matter? Where are you? You’re not at home?”
    â€œNo. I’m out on Highway 28 at a Texaco station, the one right across from the water tower.”
    â€œI know the place,” Mark said. “What are you doing there?”
    â€œPlease, don’t ask questions! Can you come and get me?”
    â€œSure. I’ll be right there. Do your folks know you’re out?”
    â€œI don’t want them to know anything. Please, just come and get me, Mark.”
    Fear shot through her voice, and she said, “Please,” in a whisper.
    â€œAll right, Prue. Don’t worry. You stay right there inside the station. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. All right?”
    â€œAll right, Mark.”
    Mark hit the front door running, got into the Buick, the family’s second car, and hoped that his parents wouldn’t hear the engine start up. It caught at once, and he eased out onto the road, waiting until he got out to the blacktop before he opened it up. Floorboarding the accelerator, he shot through the night, a thousand things racing through his mind. He covered the distance in record speed, pulled up beside the Texaco station, which was still lit up, and by the time he got out of the car he saw Prue running toward him. Her eyes were wide, and her lips were trembling, and he said, “Prue, what is it?”
    â€œPlease, Mark, take me home.”
    â€œSure. Get in the car.” He walked over with her, opened the door, then shut it when she was inside. Quickly he moved back to his own position behind the wheel, put the Buick in gear, and drove away. Out of his rearview mirror, he saw the attendant standing outside scratching his head. Twisting his head, he saw that Prue was as far away from him as she could get, and she was staring out the window. He also thought he could see that her shoulders were trembling as though she were crying.
    Reaching over, he touched her shoulder and said, “Look, Prue, you’d better tell me about it. What are you doing way out here in the middle of nowhere?”
    Prue did not turn for a moment. She cleared her throat, searched through her purse for a Kleenex, and then blew her nose. Finally she turned and said, “I’ve been at the Blue Moon with Leon Dicus.”
    â€œWhat?” Mark swerved the car as he turned to face her. “Have you lost your mind, Prudence Deforge?”
    â€œPlease don’t scold me. You can’t say anything that I haven’t said to myself.”
    Mark heard the plea in her voice and turned his attention back to driving. He said nothing, and she sat there quietly until he pulled in her driveway. “The lights are