Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-20
TAKE TANhAc vEeETABLE. PILLS.

brothers and cousins and sech. Kin
You recollect that any o EN- died
sudden and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
mebbe, or suicide, or like MI. Bcnk-
ard? / just want YOU to tell me
yes or no."
Zoe Dawn still looked steadily into
His eyes, but the amused expression
had left her face and with his words
leaving her CHASTITY in the shadows.
Slowly she rose from hef chaiE
NO, Mr.. Peters, | can recall no
relative whose death was In any
way violent. That is no reason,
however. why cannot appreciate
the feelings of AIR. Benkard's family
now, il that is what you mean.
Perhaps | have cause. as at one
time / thought / should have the
right. TO feel even more deeply than
they. Although. living, | was sure
that | hated him-I would have
crushed the ambition for which he
put me aside-now that he is dead.
IL would give anything in the
world to bring him back. even if
were never to see him. never to hear
his name! Ruthless and crooked he
may have been to others, cruel and
heartless to me at the last. but he
was my mate! | have realized it
more fully since l came into this
room than ut any moment since his
death. Are-are there any more
questions you wish to ask? 1t is
late and II am very tired"
NO, maam." Geoff had already
got to his feet and as the doctor
turned the light switch in the wall
he added: IF somethin' should come
up that YOU could help us bout
and you wouldn't likely care to have
us comm to your house. it'll be all
right if the doctor calls You. up on
the telephone ~
In the crude, yellow glare from
the electric bulbs the woman seemed
to have aged years since their
meeting at the crossroads before, the
sun went down and. as if reanzfng
it herself, she hurriedly drew down
her veil while she replied: 81.
ANY day. any hour that Dr. Hood
sends for me | shall come"
She held out her hand and Geoff
shook it awkWardly, then remained
where he was while the doctor
BUSTED out to light up the porch
and escort his visitor to her car
After an interval. it drove off
through the darkness. and the
doctor returned to find Geoff still
standing where he had left him.
His jaw had dropped. and below the
shock of sandy hair which fell over
his forehead his lackluster eyes
stared vacantly into space
Hey. what's the matter with
you?" his host demanded. Have
YOU taken root? You got the wo-
man down here, as l can understand
how that you planned to do, Geofr,
when you gave Lyons instructions
last night to tell her Lane had
gone back on their bargain: but
aside from hearing that Bernhard
was afraid for his life, which we
knew already from William Dunn
and old Henry, | don't see where
the surprise party you spoke Of
comes in
Don't you. doc" Geor's eyes
Travelled slowly to the others face.
and he Srinned. Just YOU set down
and think over what that Zoey wu-
man said real careful. | amt took
root and I gotta go home now and
git the mare in under the shed:
heavy dew's bad for her rheumatic.
The surprise | had wasn't Just the
sort L thought likely we'd git and
mebbc it'll turn out to be nothin'
'Cept a crazy idee., but it kinder
struck me all of sudden ana III
have to work over it in my own
mind afOre | talk much. and see
how it fits in with the rest"
What rest" demanded the thor
ou2hly eXasperated medical en-
aminer. There isn't any rest to
the case. that | knew of, and we're
back whore we started. We've no
more notion than we had in the be-
ginning who committed the muir
Ger!'
Geoff slonched to the door, and
then paused.
rect. he said. there wasn't no
murder committed a-tall,"
(Ia "a Caak:aualA