The Coolidge examiner., 1936-12-24

After luncheon the telephone
rang. Its Mrs. Thelford, Mrs.
Avery" Sarah Darbe informed me.
1 had never liked Brenda Thel-
ford-Ace's cousin. But l knew that
of course 1 must call upon her. l
felt a little mortified that she was
asking help of me before I volun-
teered it. How do you do, Mrs.
Thelford," began. Il feel fright
fully to think that you have had to
telephone me. had every inten-
ton of calling you as soon as I
came back to normal. I've just
craWled to the point where 1 could
take little walk this morning."
"Quite!" came Brenda Thelford s
frigid, correct voice. Il perfectly
understand. l wonder you are not
a raving maniac. And of course
I've been very busy myself"
1T must be a dreadful business
for you," I murmured.
1T is. Fortunately with so many
deaths in my own family, I've had
some experience in this sort of
thing. But I've called you up, Mrs.
| Avery, to ask a great favor of you
1t wasn't until yesterday afternoon
that it occurred to Sam Chess that
we ought to notify Bruce Hexson of
Aces death. l told Sam to call
him up on the telephone. He tried
to get him at intervals all day.
Then we gave it up. Sam felt that
he knew what had happened. Bruce
Hexson often takes his two servants
I've forgotten their names"
'Adah and Berry," l informed
her.
"Yes. He often takes them up
the river to Aces island camp for
the weekend. There's no telephone
there. Sam thought they'd come
back this morning. They did, but
not until fifteen minutes ago.
Somebody's got to break the news
of Aces death to Bruce HexSon.
I'll be up to my ears in work, get
ting ready for the funeral. 1 can
not very well spare the time to
drive oaer to the camp and 1 SIM
ply cannot bring myself to tell him
over the telephone. l wondered if
YOU"
My heart sank. "Of course I
will, Mrs. Thelford," I answered.
''Pn go at once"
"Oh thank you, thank you," she
answered, the stress of a great re-
lief in her voice.
I had said yes quickly enough,
for there was nothing else to do.
But the moment I put the receiv-
er back, cowardice enveloped me.
1t seemed a task too terrific for
my over-wrought nerves. I said
nothing to Hopestill about my er-
rand to Bruce HeXson; for 1 knew
if I told him where I was going,
he would insist on accompanying
me. And for Bruce Hexson's sake,
did not want any onlookers at
the scene. What I did say was,
''Hopestill, I think I'll take a little
drive alone. 1 think it will do me
good"
Il think it will be good medi-
cine, Aunt Mary" he, to my great
relief, approved.
was glad that the road to camp
did not go through the village. 1
did not feel like seeing people. At
the crossroads, turned to the left
and followed Bradford street.
A few cars, carrying friends,
passed; a few pedestrians were
sauntering along the earth side
walks. Familiar faces-swift as
were the mods and glances we gave
one another-showed me, more
definitely than anything yet, what a
pail lay over the town.
1 was glad when the road, pull
ing away from the town, pulling
away from the houses, pulling
away even from the wine-glass
elms which guarded it, became
more and more rustic, more and
more SOllIary.
After few miles of this, turned
into road, little more than a lane,
which wound in a humpy, rutty
curve off to the left and toward the
ocean. 1t ended presently in a
cleared space. l stopped the car.
Aces camp lay fully revealed as
crossed the eXpanse of shorn
meadow which surrounded it.
Ace had always known in
stinctively what beauty was. He
had hired a pair Of Maine guides
to make the tWo-story log cabin
log-house, I should call (which
we called the Camp. 1t is one of
the most beautifully constructed log
houses l have ever seen. 1t con-
sists of a big living-room, bedrooms
and kitchen; an ell at one side in
which lived Adah and Berry. AS l
came around to the broad front piaz-
"a, saw that Bruce was sitting out
in front, reading his Bible.
Bruce sat at d big, broad, bare
table. He wore one of the tow
colored smocks with the brown cor
duroy trousers in which he always
dressed at camp. His folded arms
were resting on the table and over
them his absorbed eyes were read
ing from his big worn, brown calf