Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-04

spot OF color glowed in each cheek
and her eyes were alight with sup
pressed excitement.
Il didn't call, but / shall want you
to come and help me dress immedi-
| ateIy." Mrs. Cayley responded.
Where Is Godfrey? DR.. Hood
i wishes him to wait here without
fail"
Il left him gettin' Henry to lie
rim around and I had to tell her
| what-what had happened. She's
havin' regular Mysteries and won't be
any use in the kitchen, but I've put
! some coffee on, ma'am, for you've
| got to keep up your strength"
| Mrs. Cayiey dismissed the sugges-
ton with a gesture of repugnance,
but a second thought made her real
ize its wisdom, and. telling Lefty to
bring a cup to her room, she started
up the staircase. On the gallery she
encountered the mason sauntering
from the direction of Henry Carps
| room.
| "Dr. Hood will be here at any mo-
ment now" she informed him. HE
| wants you to wait here to see him."
Geoff nodded.
| "I'H be right outside, Mis- Cayley,
| and likely see him COMM" he replied.
Passing On to her own room, Mrs.
Cayley was on the point OF entering
| when her daughters door. further
| down the gallery, flew open and Mil
| She had dressed in evident haste,
and her small white face quivered
I with fear.
Mother, what is it? ! will know
| the truth. Vera has gone back to
| her own room to dress, but she told
me Uncle Joe was i'll and neither
you nor he wanted me to go down
stairs. What does it mean?"
Mrs. Cayley slowly approached her
! daughter, but did not touch her. In
stead. she looked steadily down into
| the violet-blue eyes raised to her
own and spoke in a low, clear tone
strangely devoid of any natural ten
derness.
4 have tried all your life to teach
you self-control. Mildred. and the
time has come for you to exert it.
Your uncle is dead"
The girls whole slender body
ouivered as IL it were under the
stroke of a lash, and she caught her
breath in a little gasp.
Il felt it," she whispered. IL knew
that something dreadful had come.
Mother. how did he die"
Look over the railing down into
the patio and you will see" There
| seemed to be almost calculated
cruelty in the GOODNESS Of the older
| woman's tone. Remember, no
| scenes. We do not know who is re-
sponsible for your uncle's death but
in any event there will be endless
questioning, hideous nOtoriety. The
medical eXaminer-a representative
OF the police--is coming and so is
Stoneham Lane; | have sent for
him"
"Why?' Mildred stiffcned and
seemed to grow inches taller as she
drew herself up under the stern,
commanding gaze bent upon her.
What Is he to US"
Low as it was, her voice rang with
| en- open defiance that. was like a
declaration of warfare. and for Il mo-
ment the two strange antagonists.
mother and daughter, faced each
other in silence. Then Mrs. CayIey
replied with sudden suavity:
our Oldest and closest family
friend. He will take charge of
everything for US. Bear that in
| mind, my child. when he arrives. |
will not reproach you now for your
, past attitude: YOU know of course
! what your future one must be. Your
hiltit htdlIl NUS TtIlueIGu IL III
| evitable that his last wishes shall be
| cbeycd"
Tho girls rosebud lips curled ever
so slightly.
I'VE are not living in the Middle
Ages now. mother. I'm not going to
pretend any grief that | don't feel
nor acknowledge any absurd obliga-
ton FOR the future. Whatever else
Uncle Joe may have been. he was no
hypocrite; nor will be. II Mr.. Lane
is coming to act for you as "A family
friend, my attitude toward him will
be becomingly grateful. | can promise
YOU. | wonder-I wonder who---?"
Here's your coffee. ma am" Lefty
appeared ut Mrs. Cayley's elbow with
tray. and the latter directed:
Take it into my room, please"
Then to her daughter she added:
I'VE will have n little talk later
Mildred. Meanwhile. if you cannot
feel any natural grief over the
tragedy which has come upon us,
| must at least insist that YOU show
to every one n decent respect for
your uncies memory"
She glanced mcaningly toward the
room occupied by their guest. Vera
Sherwood. and. turning. vanished
within her own door. Left alone.
step toward the railing of the eallery
os if to follow her mothers calIously
given advice and look down for her
self at the scene which. from where
she stood, would be within her line
OF vision. But the next moment,
with u little shiver. she covered her
face with her hands and fled back
into her own room. y
Meanwhile. Geoff Peters had
fingered at the stairs' head until lie
saw Lefty emerge from below. Then
he had hurried out to the terrace.
where he busted himself gathering
up the loose sections of board and
scattered implements left from his
work OF the previous day until the
j.Iattle of an ancient car. approach
ing at breakneck speed over the new
cut private road, made him hasten to
the driveway.
A stout man of perhaps fifty sat
behind the wheel. Beside him was
a younger man as lean and lanky
as the mason himself, but clad in the
blue and brass of metropolitan
! police lieutenant, n uniform which
! seemed, as lie Clambered down, to
clothe his awkward frame with al
| most iudicrous incongruity.
Hey. Geor Peters," He hustled
forward obviously. What's been
| soin' on here MURDER"
stopped by at the station house
| for Zeke Foster" explained the stout
man as he shut off the engine
Thought from what Mrs. Cayley
! said that he'd be needed. You got
my message. Geoff? Been keeping
! every one away from the body?"
Geon nodded.
Got the place all round where
| it was found roped off, Doc he
4 urawlCd Reckon 1 was the first TO