Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-03-11

one of those people who is full OF
lore. He likes curious, out-of-the-
way books"
Lets co." Patrick exclaimed,
and l fancied there was a sudden
impotence in his tone.
Presently we were spinning
across the causeway. "Any pref
erence?" I asked Patrick idly when
we came to the crossroads.
Lets 60 over and see Bruce
Hexson," Patrick suggested. HE
must be over the worst of that cold.
He's a wise guy. have half a
mind to lay the whole story before
him and ask his advice"
I turned to the left in the direc-
ton of the camp.
Patrick seemed to have recov-
cred his animation. He talked
steadily all the time. Well he
might, for never had Satuit
spawned a more perfect da3 Lam
gorous warmth of middle August
with sky, a sheet of melting
blue loaded with argosies of cloud.
In the air the brisk smell OF salt
marsh and the pungent odor OF
tansy.
Once in while, tree or bush
waved feck of autumn coloring.
Blackberry bushes by the road
showed fine, minnikin purply-black
clusters of fruit. Milkweed was
breaking and putting into milk-white
silk. Goldenrod spired everywhere.
Elm all your travels, Mary
Avery" Patrick asked me once,
"have you ever seen anything more
beautiful than Satuit?"
s'No, never, Patrick! Paris is
not more beautiful. Florence is not
more beautiful. Rome is not more
beautiful! Venice" We both
laughed and abandoned our thesis.
When we got to the end Of the
lane which led to the cleared area
about the camp, Patrick said,
'.Would you mind waiting here
alone for a few nunites, Mary?
There are one or two things I'd
like to talk over with Bruce alone.
It's man talk. I would not mind
your being about, but I think he'd
be more comfortable if you weren't
there"
"Of counsel" I agreed. TThere's
no reason why I should 60 inside at
all. I can sit here until you come
out"
"Oh well, that's not necessary"
Patrick insisted. He climbed out
of the car.
was returning to the library Eli
nor Wylie's ''The Orphan Angel"
Idly opened at the first page. My
eyes dropped onto phrase in the
second paragraph which still re-
echoed in beauty in my mind-"the
aerial composure of a cloud" I
closed the book over this morsel.
With my eyes on Patrick's retreat
ing figure, rolled it, fguratively
speaking, over and over on the
tongue of my mind. And yet my
eyes followed Patrick, noting sub
consciously the alertness of his
graceful, springing step. remem-
bered, 1 recalled, that Ace Blake
had always used in regard to Pat
rick word that he had picked up
in the South jimpliculate." I
could never get from Ace quite
what jimpriculate meant. 1t seemed
to indicate a vague combination OF
slenderness, strength, grace and
style. I remember noting how fresh
Patrick's khaki uniform always
looked.
The camp was singularly quiet.
Ordinarily, at the sound of an auto
mobile, either Adah or Berry, or
both, appeared at the door. Mel
Their appeared today. Perhaps they
were working out back. 1t seemed
to me that saw f1utter of curtain
at the window. But to this day l
cannot be sure; yet Bruce must
have looked out to see who was
coming. But very clearly I heard,
just as Patrick was nearing the
house, the sound of shot.
| That sound did not perturb me.
Instantly I jumped to the conclusion
that Berry had killed one of the
noisome starlings on which we
were all warning. But apparently
Patrick did not think of starlings,
for instantly he broke into a run.
AS / have said before, Patrick had
always been an all-round athlete
and he could sprint. With no tremor
of apprehension I watched him pull
open the piazza door, rush over
the piazza and into the house.
| I sat there idly waiting and idly
watching the sparkling plane Of
the ocean. I can't remember how
many moments went by. Not
many, but presently, Patrick APP.
peared, came running toward me
/ must have realized suddenly that
he was CHASTITY; for afterwards my
hands ached from a terrific grip or
the wheel.
When Patrick was within speak
ing distance, he called, "Mary
Bruce Hexson has just committed
suicide. He killed Ace Blaikie."
/ remember only a frightfu
sense of weakness and swirlinf
darkness. Into both came Patrick.