Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-04-12
ONE HAND
IN THE
HOPPER
observation-disclosures
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FNN VI Ai-lS LEM leuneu CLOSE 10
the screen, widening her eyes to
the darkness. The 200 feet of her
y own lot lay between her and the
car in the alley. yet she could see
the human figures that hurried from
the shelter of the dim maple to meet
It.
Back in the old four-poster from
which the strange boot of an owl had
reused her, Jean recalled the talk
that ha been going the rounds he.
fore she had gone away. Adding %
that the gossip she had heard after
she had taken the valley train home,
her slim fingers touched or twelve
names that might he connected with
the car.
The business day of Morgunsburg
began at seven. The last stroke OF
the town clock was still resembling
when Jean walked into the store of
George Stayman. George was not only
a merchant, he was one of the town
fathers as well. His surprise AT see
Ing her showed plainly
Good morning, Miss McAlllster
After New York our town will seem
very quiet to you"
"Yes, but it's nice to be quiet some
times, and to get good sleep"
"YOu must "a been tired" cut IN
sharp voice, ito sleep in this town.
What with them cars slgnalln', row.
dies flghtln' and wonderln' II your
own men folks Is gettln' mixed up in
1t, l amt slept bit for good while
back"
"Why, Maria" exclaimed Jean,
smiling at the bulky figure and going
over to shake her work-worn hand,
there ! was thinking | would get you
to help me to get the dust out OF my
house, and now | just know you will
be lying down on the first sofa you
see to take nap"
ia, Miss JEAN" smile breaking
through the gloom, "of course I'll
help you and be glad, but you know
how 1t is with no police In town
like this. There's no order and
there's great carrying on"
you're jokingl Isn't she, Mr. stay
man2 Surely we still have police
man."
"rhe last one we had proved n
problem" said the councilman suave,
ly, "and We like to be careful about
the taxpayers money"
1t was on jeans tongue to speak
of her alley when she was checked
by Maria's "Humphl" Her soft voice
went on ordering her supplies: "The
coffee ground medium, please. Can
you deliver the order right away?
Thank you. And Maria" turning to
her, "can you come up when you are
through at homer
an come now and help you get
your breakfast"
As they walked along the street.
Maria confided: "Old George Stayman
makes II sound pretty slick about
why they don't have no police but
guess he knows all about the real
reason"
Later Oh In the day she went IN
without missing stroke on the win.
dow panes. "Old Deacon Mowbray
could have stopped the whole works,
but they trlcked his boy into driving
truck one night, an he never knew
what he was hauling until they start
ed TO sing that old song they use as
signal"
When she mad gone Jean sat by
the window and ran over the facts
she had gathered. There was no one
to do 1t. Even Rev. John Mansfield,
leader of the Law and Order cociety,
had had his hands tied because
minister OF the gospel has no civic
authority.
"I'll do It myself she muttered
IF ! am woman, Pm n McAlllster
one"
with elbows on the sill, chin In her
hands, she thought and studied. Sud
denly there came the big ldea--the
fad she had had some time ago for
amateur photography. She soon had
everything In readiness
Through the gathering dusk she
slipped down into the garden and set
up her tripod In the shelter OF the
bean vines, looked In the finder to
see II she had focused on the right
stretch of alley, then got back to the
house without being seen.
The time dragged til the midnight
hour. Al the last stroke Of twelve
slim black coated figure crept out
Of the McAlister house and made Its
way to the grape arbor. Jean was not
afraid, but she kept of the flag
stones, for she did not want to ex.
plain 90 any one why she had gone
out so late at night. Safe between
the rows of grapevlnes, long breath
relieved her lungs. Halfway down
she stopped. Perhaps she was fool
ish to do this alone, perhaps they
would not come tonight. She started
on the. silent as death, sank down to
the ground-a boot sounded, so close
that she might have touched It's
sources She edged her length under
the overhnnglng leaves Of the vines,
turned her face down tucked her
hands under tho folds Of her cont,
became one with the earth and the
darkness, as sleaIthy footsteps passed
her, brushing the leaves that covered
her.
The leayes swls!ed again, and there
came the sound Of heel on the flag |
stone At the end Of the walk Gle |
didn't see me Jean exulted Now |
hen wall, down Ia the street and 90 |
iglh on
~ another instant dull thud was
heard ~ h. Jumped the picket fence.
hood lplIn@rd Perhaps the feel Of
DR.. r. ERNEYHOUGH,
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