The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-11-05
Murder Masquerade
p q ah BY Inez Haynes Irwin wnUsrt~

WNU Service.

Caro- possessed thai understand
ing and sympathy which makes
for tact. / felt that she sensed her
friends preoccupation; that she
was trying to cover it up. / helped
her.
"You like America, Caro-" l
drew her out. "You would like to
live here always?"
"Oh yesl" Caro- exclaimed. 'Oh
yes! 1t has opened whole new
world to me and whole new life"
Caro's quick ears caught before
mine the sound of an automobile
turning into the drive. Here
comes Ace, Molly!" she exclaimed.
It seemed to me / read into her
voice a faint note of warning.
As though Caro- herself caught
and regretted that involuntary cry,
she added in a casual tone, "In
Mr.. Hexson's car. And my be-
loved granddad's with them"
81 knew as well as you two girls
where to go for drink" Ace
Blaikie threw out of the murmur of
greetings. He seated himself be-
tween Molly and Caro-. Doctor
Marden chose a seat beside me.
That was the last time those
three men were to sit on my piazza
together. All wore the Legion
d'Honneur. Doctor Marden, HIM
self a tall man, the shortest of the
three, appeared first. He wore his
abundant silvery hair straight back
from his forehead. On his chin lay
an imperial, still black. A thin aqui-
line nose cut like the blade of a
scimitar out of the planes of his
face. His black eyes, extremely
fine, lighted a long, pallid, pear
shaped face. Those eyes were def
initely sad and yet they watched
all the time. Watched what? I
didn't know then what they
watched.
Next came Ace-a noticeably tall
man. Though in the late forties,
Ace retained his magnificent figure.
although his golden curls were
shot with white and his face had
developed lines, he was still one of
those men you would turn to look
at in the street.
Tallest of all was Bruce Hexson.
Physically, he differed as widely
from Ace as he did in character
and personality. He was big with
onorr,o,,e ,,o,co,,1or cfoonad cbO,,l-
ders. In some aspects-standing
straight-his figure recalled statues
of Lincoln; in others-crouching
over-he looked like grizzly bear.
His huge head was made huger by
the tangled, dark shag of his hair.
His hazel eyes-once brilliant, now
luminous-lay like lonely lakes in
the depths of great hollows.
AS usual, when Ace entered a
company, he became its center. In
sensibly our talk focused upon him.
Bruce Hexson sat very quiet, a lit
tie absent, as one drifting in and
out of the conversation. Myron
Marden threw in an occasional
comment. Occasionally A e's
glance rested on Molly for an in
slant. l noted a new element in
his look and l did not like it-a
triumphant possessiveness.
In spite of Aces vivacity, con-
straint had fallen upon us. Caro-
Prentiss had completely quoted; a
vel. of reserve seemed to deaden
her animation. Bruce Hexson's
eyes wandered from Aces face
to the distant marsh and there set
in a preoccupied serenity.
I, conscious of conflicting psyche
logical currents in my little party,
was beginning to develop social
embarrassment when diversion
came. / caught the scamper of
Sylvia's little feet over the lawn
as she came up from the pool. She
came racing up the steps, carry
ing her tavorite doll-Dorinda
Belle
"'Who is Sylvan" Ace greet
ed her. "Come herei"
Sylvia went to him unhesitating-
ly; perched on the high knee TO
which he invited her. From the pre-
carious height she responded with
her shy composure to all their
greetings.
How is Dorinda BELIEF" Ace
asked.
"She's very well, thank you, T"
Sylvia answered in her prim, con-
ventional little-girl way.
Dorinda Belle had been my doll.
Now she is Sylvia's. Sylvia pos
sesses all kinds of dolls-but of
them all she loves Dorinda Belle
best. Why / don't know. Dorinda
Belle possesses a sawdust-filled
cloth body, china head, china
arms, china legs. Her hair Is
painted on her skull in great jet
black waves which part in the mid
die and scallop over her forehead.
Her blue eyes stare. Her red lips
simper. But somehow she is a real
doll and subconsciously Sylvia rec
ognizes that. Ace knows Dorinda
Belle. Once, during a call which
was purely social, Sylvia told Ace
that Dorinda Belle was i'll. Ace sol
EMMY took her pulse and tempera-
ture and wrote out prescription.
Are you going to the masquer.
ade tonight" Ace inquired.
''What question, Ace!" l came
to Sylvia's rescue. Don't put such
ideas into her headi"
ITO RE cONTTNIJEDJ