The Coolidge examiner., 1936-11-20


well, for one thing, when 1 was
doing the floor, something clattered
under the mop. 1 hunted a long
while before I could find it. You
see it was just the color of the
floor. But finally got it. 1t was
one of those wooden collar buttons
which come from the laundry in
mems shirts"
Yes" 1 said interrogatively.
THAT wasn't ALL" Sarah contin-
ued. Outside in the bushes found
one of those sheets of stiff card
board the laundries put in mems
shirts to keep them from getting
Wrinkled."
Somebody might have used the
Little House to dress for the mas
querade," said slowly, although
I can't imagine anybody doing that
without asking my permission. Of
course we never think of locking
it."
Somebody slept there, Mrs.
Avery" Sarah said with decision.
1.-The couch had been used. You
know we keep some comforters
folded up in the closet. Nobody
touches those comforters but me
and I always fold them a particu-
lar way-the way fold everything;
the way you taught me. Whoever
used them, folded them too, but
very carelessly."
Il wouldn't say anything about it
to any of the girls who are coming
to the picnic" I advised. ''It isn't
important really-so long as no
harm was done. Of course I don't
like to think of strangers-tramps
or whatever-sleeping in the Little
House. 1t doesn't frighten me
though. But some of the girls
might feel a little frightened about
going there"
"Oh wouldn't say word about
it to anybody" Sarah declared,
giving me reproachful look. "You
can trust me for that
II know I can," I said, giving
her an affectionate look.
I came downstairs and dawdled
for about an hour. The day was
dangerously beautiful. The after
noon was unnaturally tranquil.
Garden scents drifted onto my pi-
azza and into my house. l do not
remember that my telephone, uSu-
ally so busy, tangled once. "Ev-
erybody," 1 remembered rejecting,
''is sleeping it off," l remembered
too wondering how many people
stayed until sunrise at the Stow
party. About three o'clock, Sylvia
came trudging up the driveway.
Her face was flushed from two
hours of play in the sun. Dorinda
Belle looked a little the worse for
wear.
Did Nancy Gomez" l asked.
mo, Aunt Mary" Sylvia an
swered. ''She didn't come at all
and Dorinda Belle hasn't been
crowned yet" She laid her care
fully down on the chair beside her.
How Dorinda Belle glitters!" l
exclaimed. Whats that you've
tied around her waist?"
Isn't it beautiful? I found it on
the path
Bring it over to me, honey"
Sylvia trotted to my side bear
ing Dorinda Belle.
''Oh it's buckle!" / exclaimed.
And it's very beautiful old one.
1t looks like Spanish paste. Some
body must have dropped it coming
to the party. I'm afraid I'll have
to take it away from you, dear.
Well have to find out who lost it."
1 remember that started to ex-
anime the buckle closely. But at
that exact moment the telephone
rang. Before l took up the re-
ceiver - quite mechanically -
slipped the glittering thing into
little Dresden box on the table
nearest me. From that precise in
slant, / did not think of that buckle
again until-But must not antici-
pate my own story.
1t was Sam Chess, Ace Blaikie's S
negro man, on the wire. had
known Sam for twenty-five years.
rs that you Mrs. Avery?" Sam
asked.
"Yes, Sam. What is i'll"
Mrs. Avery, Doctor Blaikie
amt got home yet from the party.
And some of his patients keeps
calling. l jess wondered if you
knew where he was or when l could
expect him. l sort of feel kind
of worried, Mrs. Avery"
II haven't the remotest idea,
Sam, where he is" l replied. He
left the party before the unmask-
ing. l left it about two o'clock and
he had not come back by then
and l fancy he didn't come back
at all. But you know Doctor
Blaikie! You ought to know him
well enough by this time not to wor
ry and not to expect him until you
see him.
''Yes'm. l reckon l know tha
about Doctor Blaikie, Mrs. Avery
But he didn't even come back here
10 phapoa his cIOfboc on6 Won xpOU
how he was dressed