The Coolidge examiner., 1936-11-26

| Tie put uIIle pIlSllCA "a SAGdIIl III
front of my plate-just for me. "
What time did Aunt Matte and
Uncle Peter get home last night?"
Il don't know. Caddie put me
and Dorinda Belle to bed before
they came"
And SO you did not see Aunt
Matte and Uncle Peter until this
morning."
mo. They came into my room
and they hugged me and kissed
me. OIL almost forgot. Aunt
Matte told me to tell you that she
wanted to come over to see you
after breakfast-as soon as posi-
ble."
reached out and touched the
bell. Sylvia" 1 said, putting my
arm about her and drawing her
closer, do you remember how you
danced with Doctor Ace at the
masquerade"
Sparkles gathered in Sylvia S
eyes. "Oh yes, remember! He
couldn't guess who I was. He tried
and he tried and he tried, but he
couldn't.
Doctor Ace has gone away"
said to her. He's gone away for
a long, long time. But l want you
to remember; as long as you live,
how he looked and how kind he
has always been to you. Promise
me you won't forget him."
"Oh, I'll never forget Doctor
Ace" Sylvia vowed easily enough.
She did not ask me where Ace had
gone.
Sarah came in with my tray.
Nov run downstairs to the piaz-
"a" 1 bade Sylvia. And don't
leave it without asking me-"
Sarah did not seem herself. The
deep unber of her flesh still
showed tallowy quality.
Il hope you feel better this murn-
ming, Mrs. Avery" she said.
II feel rested, Sarah, but you
don't seem SO very spry."
81 feel that we're all under sus-
picion!" Sarah commented somber-
| ly. Everybody on this Head-We
women as we'll as the men,"
1 made myself smile. I'VE don't
have to worry. Sarah" 1 reassured
her. Nobody in this household
has to worry. Doctor Geary says
Doctor Blaikie was murdered
somewhere about midnight-prob-
ably before. We all have alibis.
And then, Sarah, it seems to me
very unlikely that a woman could
have committed this crime. How
could a woman have stabbed a
man so tall and big as Ace Blai-
kie?"
"A woman who's big enough
and mad enough, Mrs. Avery-can
do anything"
"Will you call up Mrs. Stow at
once, Sarah," 1 asked. land tell
her that I'm dressing now and to
come over here as soon as she
wants"
Yes, Mrs. Avery"
Il suppose everybody's been on
the telephone"
Everybody. Every Boston pa
per's tried to get you, but / said
you were still sleeping"
That's right, Sarah. Don't let
anybody get to me today-except
long distance of course"
There's a stack of telegrams,
Mrs. Avery
III look at them later"
l bathed and dressed swiftly,
vent downstairs.
Almost instantly Matte Stow
| came into the living from the
hall. We kissed, then stood off and
stared appraisingly at each other.
You look as washed-out as l do
Mary" Matte commented.
IF l look as l feel" l said.
You look all of that, Mary. It's
the most horrible experience of my
lifetime. Sometimes l feel as
though I'd never get over it,
"Horrible!" 1 could only-help-
| lesSly-echo.
What time did you go home,
Mary? l can remember so little.
clearly"
described our movements
| Sylvie's and mine-in detail.
Peter and 1 dressed at the Bray
house." Matte said. I'VE left our
place at about half-past eight and
got back at about ten. Naturally
we never left the house again. No
body left the house but" She
stopped suddenly. 1t was her own
thought, dogging her words, that
had caught her up.
"Of course Ace left before the
unmasking because we never saw
| him again." Matte glided swiftly.
1T puts an end to our masquer-
ades," Matte ended lifelessly. II
could never give another one"
The telephone buzzed. Instructive
ly l arose. But before l could get
the extension on the piazza, heard
Sarah at the hall telephone. l took
up the receiver. Patrick O'Brien S
voice said, This is the chief of
police speaking. Can l talk with
Mrs. Avery?"