The Coolidge examiner., 1936-01-24

in the same low tone, Cyanide"
1t was the following Tuesday be-
fore Perilla Maiden found herself
entirely. The motor car, whose
speed was retarded by Lovell's di-
rectiOn, reached New York on Sun
day, and they went directly to the
Lovells city apartment.
The long and wearing motor
ride, after the distressing stay at
Maiden House, had so sapped Peril
las strength that at the doctors
orders she went to bed and stayed
there until fully recuperated.
And that time had come. "All
right now, Mother" she said. Il
want to get up and dress and oh,
Mother, there's so much to tell you.
And first of all, here's a shocker
for you. I'm going to finish up the
work on the apartment, and get into
it as soon as l can. Don't oppose
me, I'm too i'll to fight, but plenty
well enough to do what l want to-"
y 1--WE won't fight you, dear, and
you can move in just as soon as we
can get things ready. Won't you
be lonely there? Do you plan to
have any one with you?"
Il do" Perilla gave her mother
a dubious glance. II plan to, have
Jane"
"Jane? Merciful heavens, what
do you think Pm going to do? l
can't get along without Jane"
"Oh, yes you can. Let's say, for
month or two, anyway. She can
run around here when you want
her specially. And maybe she can
get you another golden girl such as
she is"
well, We'll see about It," and
Mrs. Lowell sighed. Perilla knew
she had won her point.
"Now We'll have luncheon" she
ordered, land then we'll have what
find they call conference. Oh,
motheri ! It's all too dreadful! Don't
pity me, or even sympathize; if
you do, I'll break down."
The two tactful women quite un-
derstOod this and no reference was
made to matters at Maiden House,
until Perilla chose to make 1t.
Perilla was so near collapse that
it seemed no hardship to remain in
bed. When she felt equal to the
strain she took her mother and
Jane up to her own little boudoir
and told them the whole story.
Mr.. Lowell and Malcolm came In
the late afternoon, having spent the
night before with Garth in his Phil
adelphia home.
"a splendid man, that Garth"
declared Lowell. Hes taken over
all Perilla's business, and she
couldn't have better lawyer. You
won't have to worry about any
thing, dear"
"Not anything, dad?"
Il hope not. We won't go into
matters now."
''Better have it out, dad" said
Malcolm, who well knew Perilla's
persistency.
'Was there any more talk Of
Of" bat Perilla couldn't 90 on.
Nothing but. However, 1 think
we put the kibosh on that. You
must know, mother and Jane. that
Corey's mother is not a-well, not
an affable person. And she has a
complex or whatever you call those
things, that Pril-might as we'll
say it right out-that Pril killed
Corey. Don't jump, Jane, Perilla
has heard this and discounted it.
1.-THE old lady-I wish I could
draw her picture for you-well, l
had to threaten her with all the
torments of the Inferno, before she
would let up on it. And l did have
her stopped; she made up with
Perilla, and promised to lead bet
ter life, when, after. the funeral,
she somehow got going again."
"Oh, Malcolm, did she?' cried
Perilla. "What did she do?"
well, to begin with, she vowed
that packet of cyanide was yours,
and of course we all know it was
hers, and she said you meant to
kill her with it, and we know she
meant to kill you with it." ..,s.
"And you let her put it over?"
"Well, see here, Jane. My stand
is that she is touched, loony, off her
nut, whatever you like to call it,
but they look upon her as sane"
But" said Mrs. Lowell, in her
soft voice, "why doesn't Perilla get
a lawyer and face this slander-for
that's what it is"
Eyes, mummie, but here's the
point. If Perilla takes any notice
of this SANDER, any notice at all, it
gives it strength and a certain pos
sibility which cannot be ignored.
That's why 1 went at the old lady
hammer and tongS to scare her
about the madhouse, which is real
ly where she belongs"
Not really, NAL" Perilla said.
81 only wish she did. But she is
sane, the doctors declare, and a
strong hate or even an unfounded