New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06
CHAPTER XIII. Condolences

DANELA did see She understood exactly what it
was that drove the old doctor to try his best to dis
believe her story; and failing that, to make himself
believe that his whole duty would be done he took It to
Hiram himself and left the question OF the test to him..
The doctor wasn't necessarily coward but he was
cd and settled in his ways. He didn't want fight on
his hands at this late dav. Pamela felt pretty sure he
believed her story; than that, that he suspected
that what old Peter Darvc saying through the one
channel Of communication that was LETT open TO HIM had
an element Of truth in it. She got the impression that
the old doctor had stumbled that morning on one family
skeleton whose bones he had never heard rattle before
As she walked slowly along the broad, shady street
she reconstructed her interview with him from the be
ginning She remembered how he had looked at her
when she first came ma queer puzzled look, rs II
there had been something familiar about her appearance
that he couldn't quite place. Her first mention OF old
Peter Davcl had brought the look back, and 1t had
come again and stronger STILL indeed in open start
and stare. when she had told him Of the odd ways in
which she and her father had ConverScd with each other
in Morse signals And he had, she remembered, started
to ask her what the message that she had written
down. and checked herself indeed, from that point on,
had done his best to prevent her telling him.
And vet in spite Of all that her underlying impression
Of the old doctor of an honest, well meaning old
gentleman incapable of deceit or evasion for his own
ends, peaceable, friendly terms with his own
conscience
The upshot of her cogitatons was that if old DIR.
Allen afraid of Hiram Williams, probably everyone
else in town more so. 1t made her own prospective
interview with him loom rather formidable Being a
one in a strong position.
Then she stopped short in her slow walk, her lips
pressed together and her eyes widened little. The
thing that had flashed into her mind a phrase of
Mrs AShlcy's
81 engaged to the prize boy of the village, every
body's model He didn't drink nor smoke, nor swear
And he industrious and thrifty
Pamela could hear just the infection Of her voice
she had said the words. Edmonton was the town that
Mrs Ashley had fed away from at two o'clock
morning Pamela felt pretty sure OF that. The womans
surprise at learning that she meant to get off the train
there made it evident enough.
81 wonder" thought Pamela, "if Hiram Williams
married widow" 1t oughtn't to be hard to find out
Probably any casual passerby in the street would be
able 10 tell her-ony they wouldn't
She walked slowly again, frowning over the prob
lem But at the next corner her eye lighted up. Right
before her eyes conspicuous by its total lack
Of shade trees, and in garing ncongruty with the mel
lowness Of the rest of the town stood very new very
shiny, very much pllared and pedimented, Carnegie
library.
CHE went in and walked straight up TO the desk and
there addressed a rather surprised young woman
who asked her what she wanted
Il want. said Pamela, "to make a few biographical