Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-01-07
MURDER UPSTAIRS@
@/ADAM BLISS GS!tSJ
CHAPTER ~

SUNSHINE was pouring through
the window. AS | looked out, the
grass was so green. that new fresh
green that only a middle western
spring can bring. There were buds on
The maple trees on the lawn and the
lows OF crocns | had planted on
either side of the walk leading to The
porch were chally white. 1t was a
sacriege TO discuss murder. on such
day as this. II was day to walk
in the moist fragrant woods a day
for youth and love. Yet. there was q
murderer among us. in this house
There was one OF US. eating with the
others. sleeping upstairs lOuncine
around the house. who had KILLED
twice. If another weapon fell into
his hands. he would kin AGAIN
death.
I.arrabea's voice droned on
We've established The fact that
Della would have unlocked her door
FOR hemingway Certainly. if Grace
Bowers had gone upstairs and
knocked al her door. she would have
unlocked il for her. Don't you
agree"
~ do. just as she would have I'm
locked the door for me-
"Would she have unlocked the
door for Janet. Bell"
hestated. but was bound to
tell the truth there.
she liked Janet. but everyone in
haps-' But | didn't say Mr.
Darien- ! paused. and Larrahee said
il for me.
Exactly. Mr.. Darien Did Janet
ever do n favor for Deha?''
did any one of the women in the
house do favors for Della? | mean
in this way. give her something.
something 10 wear perhaps"
Again | heeItated. Lucy had given
both Grace and Della clothes. gar
ments she was throwing away her
self Only last week Lucy had gwen
Della a coat It was good coat. and
Della was proud Of it. more proud
perhaps of the squirrel collar than
OF the coat. IL was the first time
she ever had a coat with a real fur
collar. and she didn't hesitate TO tell
everyone how generous Mrs. Upham
had been.
Lucy was throwing the coat out
anyway. she'd had il for three years.
hut think il pleased her that Della
had admired It so much.
Mrs. Upham gave Della a good
coat last week" told the officer.
"ArG Della was grateful?"
Very. think most of the wOm
en-, with the exception of Mrs star
mont. have given Della something in
re four months she's been here. It's
natural. you Know. Miss Cambridge
found out she wore the same size
shoes. ana gave her four pairs. Della
was pleased with them. but she never
wore them around the house. They
we're too good for work. she said.
She was saving them for best. and
since she only had one day off a
week. she didn't have much chance
10 wear them"
l.arruhee considered what ! had
SAID
Then everybody in the house was
more or less good to Delia-except
Mrs StarmOnt? 2"
II didn't say that. Indeed l didn't.
| simply said that | didn't think Mrs.
StalmOnt ever gave the girl any
thne Al least | never heard Della
say she had" had almost said that
Mrs StarmOnt's clothes were too new
10 give away. but stopped in time.
Then ! remembered that Della had
aaEed me it she could accept a Sc
tap from Mrs. Starmont. She had in
sisted on giving the girl the money
~ return for Della taking her break
ta7r up TO her room every morning.
Della didn't want to accept the
money unless l gave permission.
That vas typical Of her. ] said she
could take the tip. The following
month. Della told ME that Mrs Star