The Coolidge examiner., 1937-01-07
WEDNESDAY
L

MY Sleep 1uSSudy IISHt was So
soft and sweet-it was the rock
garden am sure which produced
this result-that when Sarah Darbe
brought my tray into my room, l
was conscious first of sef-reproach.
I thought at once of Bessie. "Oh
Sarah" l exclaimed, 81 feel more
like myself today than 1 have since
Saturday. How did Bessie Sleep"
Not at all well, Mrs. Avery"
Sarah declared. Whatever it was
that Doctor Geary gave her, it
wasn't strong enough. She sort of
dozed off the first part of the night,
but she walked up before midnight
and l think she walked the floor
the whole rest of the night.
Inside something seemed to
break off from my psychology and
disappear in the depths of my
mind. AS though that mind-slide
revealed a writing on a wall, con-
viction took hold of me, held me
close. Something will be done,
Dbl dill Sdll Qp DOStOI SSdI dl
once and tell him that Bessie
slept no better last night than the
night before. Tell him to come
again"
After Hopestill had departed for
tennis with Caro- and after Sylvia
and Nancy Burton had withdrawn
to their favorite playground, l
found myself sitting idly in chair,
waiting. 1t was no use to start
working in my old garden. 1t was
no use to start working in my new
garden. For knew that the instant
l got started, Patrick O'Brien
would arrive. 1 did not mind his
coming day after day like this. 1
welcomed it. And so, all I said
when Patrick came into the room,
was, Good morning, comrade!
I've been waiting for you
For the first time, Patrick
showed signs of inward stress. His
face was as fresh as ever, but his
eyes looked a little hollow.
rs there anything new today?"
I asked.
I'm giving my whole thought
now to finding out who it was, if
any one, hiding in the bushes when
Margaret Fairweather left the
Spinney. If can lay my hands on
that guy, l think I've got the thing
sewed up. You see, it's getting pref
ty close to midnight now. I've been
over Matte Slows list backwards,
forwards, sidewards and every
which way. I've been over the list
of people who live on the Head,
similarly. I've talked with every
member of the force until they've
begged me to lay off them. They
saw Tony's car come over the
Head and saw it go back. They
saw Walter Treadway and Molly
leave in her car. They did not see
them come back. And there you
are. Nobody has mentioned see
ing argaret-except Tony. But
that was easy enough. The force
didn't extend down to her house
and she. all in black and the moon
behind cloud, could easily enough
slip along the road into the path
which led into your Spinney. I'm
going around in circles, Mary.
Nothing 1 think of makes sense"
NO" l agreed, nothing has
seemed to make sense so far and
yet every day something occurs
that makes the whole situation
little clearer
Yes. 1 think of that a lot. And
1t helps to think of it."
At this precise moment, Sarah
entered the room. There was
strange look on her face. For the
first time in my life 1 saw Sarah
Darbe frightened.
Mrs. Avery" Sarah said, "Bes-
sic has just asked me to ask you
II she could come in and talk with
you and Mr.. O'Brien."
l looked for what seemed a long
interval straight into Sarah's eyes.
By this time, Sarah had got her
self under control. Never has that
affectionate gaze met mine with
SO neutral an expression.
Tell her to come I'M" Patrick
and said together.
In moment the two girls ap-
peared in the doorway. I had been
shocked by Bessie's appearance the
day before, but was doubly
shocked now. Her face had gone
dead
sit down, Bessie" I said.
Sarah Darbe started to leave the
room. Don't go, Sarah!" Bessie
screamed and then Immediately re-
verting to her normal soft-voiced
accents, Can Sarah stay with me,
Mrs. Avery? 1t will make it so
much easier for me-"
''Of course Sarah can stay"
agreed. Sarah, you sit on the
couch beside Bessie. l don't have
to warn you, l am sure, that you
must not speak unless Mr.. O'Brien
addresses you"
"Oh l understand perfectly" Sar-
ah Darbe assured me.
You have something to tell me,
Bessie" Patrick said in his kind
est tone. He smiled. Never is
Pntrick SO Celtic as when he