Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-06
THE TULE
MARSH MURDER
By
NANCY
BARR
MAVITY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES gySIXINNgIySEQyzNHEASA1
copwipAt, Ig2s. BY Ben spndicate. Inc


! YOU'RE feeling quite all right again
after-your illness, the other morn
ing?"
"Quite."
The word fell like a pebble dropped
very gently into deep water. Barbara
| had sunk into the second OF the two
f1reside armchairs. Her hands we're
clasped lightly in her lap, but some
thing in the poise OF her body was wary
rather than relaxed.
please don't look like that" Peter
blurted. II like you ever SO much
better when you're Alice in Wonder
| land. I like you that way best OF all. "
But this isn't wonderland"
The sad little voice was barely a
murmur. from very far away.
"Besides"-the voice had come back
this time, was near and crisp and firm,
like watercress Just out of brook
you mustn't like me that way, in
pieces won't be a character that
you've made up for yourself. I'm
just. If that's not good enough
Its quite good enough" To his sur
prise, as if it belonged to some one
else, Peter heard his voice shaking.
I'm sorry I made such fool of my
self, and got mad a minute ago."
You were, rather" Barbara agreed.
after all, the only times I'd ever seen
you you'd been after story. I thought
| it was the only thing you ever did.
| I'm glad it isn't" Her eyes, lifted to
his, had the undisguised beaming
friendlineSs of childs.
Peter made decision. It was rather
momentous decision, inasmuch as it
sacrificed his gods-the gods of the
Herald-without CULVER.
H. III rn1n ANn1yy
promise that I'll never mention the
that'll show whether I'm always after
something"
"Oh. but don't do thatw There was
touch of panic in the hurrying pro-
test II want to know all can about
it. The newspapers never tell any,
thing until it's-too late. Don't shut
me out, pleased"
Peters hand reached out in a ges-
ture of warning. She was giving her
self away-and she mustn't: not to
Peter Piper of the Herald. The small
face turned up to him was harried.
Look here" he said again. Are
you taking me for a friend?"
YES" she said quietly. I've no
business to, suppose; but think
I am"
Peter sighed-a heavy, gusty and by
no means chivalrous sigh with which
to greet an offer of friendship.
"It complexities things, rather. But
it's worth it."
Thanks" That was said as a small
boy might say. it, hiding feeling with
an abrupt casualness.
IT can't help knowing that you are
interested-in this case"
ST am that" In the remembered
Irish infection of her voice he heard
again the gamin, the "guttersnipe," the
girl of the orphanage, the girl who
had been like little wild thing in
hostile wood. If she had barred her
small, sharp teeth and struck, In cir
cumStances he could not know. he. for
one. would remember that girl of the
orphanage. He would not blame her
for it. Never. But she did not know
what she was up against. He didn't
know, either, for that matter. He'd
have to know, if he was to help her.
IT won't shut you out" he said
gently. I'm tell you anything you
want to know. But believe me, it's
for your sake ask you not to shut
me out, either. Let's go at it together"
"I-know." She closed her eyes. Her
face became sharp, white mask
against the dark chairback. For mo-
menu ne wondered IL she were SOA1lS w
faint again. But her eyes, when she
opened them, were intent and very
steady. I'm willing to help you in any
way I can" she said. "I'n help you
with my father. If there are things
can't tell you, I'll say so. But I'm
asking you to be frank with me, when
all / can promise is to be as frank
with you as can. 1t doesn't seem a
very fair bargain"
ut isn't a bargain at all-I'm not
dealing in bargains. Did you think I
was holding out for a quid pro quo?"
NO." Barbara said hastily. Nov,
don't go and get angry again. You're
so-unpredictable."
Goodness knows what I'm letting
myself in for. I may be compromising
a felony, for all know. Not that /
care, only generally prefer to COM
pound my own felonies, with my eyes
open.
But I'm going to trust your judg-
ment-because believe you've got
judgment Only there's just one thing
I'm willing to tell you anything
you want to know-only you must never
ask me to withhold anything from the
paper unless you can give me a per-