The Coolidge examiner., 1937-02-04
THURSDAY-COntinued


told me that Molly Eames did not
want to marry Ace Blaikie, that she
did not love him, that she actually
loved another man, Walter Tread
way. Why. however, she did not
break the engagement, she did not
tell Caro- and Caro- could not guess.
Il received the affidavit from
Drina Demoyne's husband on Fri
day morning. Friday afternoon, as
you remember, Mrs. Avery, Ace
Blaikie, Bruce HeXson and l
stopped here for a cool drink. That
was about two o'clock in the after
noon. My granddaughter and Mol
Iy Eames were here. They left just
after we did. When l got home,
Caro- had not arrived. A few min
utes later, however, she came in.
She had been riding around and
around the Head in Molly's car.
Molly told her that Ace Blaikie
was insisting that she elope
with him that night after the mas
querade He was apparently put
ting the screws on her. felt that the
time had come to act-that I must
act inStantly-but l wanted advice.
1 called Bruce Hexson on the tele-
phone and asked him if I could
come to the Camp to talk over an
important business matter that had
Just come up. / drove over there
at once and told him the whole
story"
How did it affect him?" Patrick
interrupted.
He was Mortified - profoundly
shocked, may say. For he too
had known Eleanor Dacre, al
though naturally this was the first
time he realized that she was my
stepdaughter. Naturally, l had new
er mentioned her name to either
of the men and there was no rea-
son why they should mention what
would seem specifically a. casual
war acquaintance to me. However,
he remembered her clearly. He
spoke in the most touching way
of her great beauty and goodness.
He advised me to go at once to
Ace Blaikie and have the thing out.
l agreed l felt, like him, that
with the idea of this elopement in
Ace Blaikie's mind. there was no
tinte to lose"
by the way, what time was
this?" Patrick interrupted.
1T would be about four now. We
went at once to Doctor Blaikie's
house. Hexson had dropped him
there on the way back. In Mr..
Hexson's presence 1 repeated the
story. Ace Blaikie was utterly dis
comhted. / felt all the time that
the only thing he was thinking of
was that this might interfere with
his elopement. Well, in the end
ne said that he would reveal his
marriage and would acknowledge
Caro- as his daughter. l asked him
if he would draw up will making
full provision for her. He answered
that he was an engaged man and
begged time to think the matter
over. / replied that I would give
him a little time. Ultimately, he
asked me if l would meet him in
Mrs. Avery's Spinney at a quarter
of eleven that night and we'd have
a little talk. He mentioned that
. he was going to meet his bootleg
ger there to give few orders but
that that conversation would be
over before arrived. Then l left. "
And you say Bruce Hexson was
present during this talk?"
Yes"
Did Mr.. Hexson leave with
you?"
mo, he stayed"
where did you go from there?"
Il went directly home"
Did you leave your home again
before the masquerade"
No"
Did you have any further COM
munication with Ace Blaikie be-
fore the masquerade"
No"
everything you told me before you
opened up?"
''All except my conversation with
Ace Blalkie."
Tell me about that"
'Tt was comparatively brief but
it was-from my point of view
satisfactory. Blaikie said that he
had decided to make announcement
in the newspapers that Caro- was
his daughter, within three days. He
said that he would leave her the
Blaikie house and a suitable in
come"
Did you make any reference to
his proposed elopement with Mol
ly Eames?"
None"
Did he make any reference to
it?"
mo.
Didn't that bother you?"
mo, for Caro- had told me only
that evening that she was sure
Molly was making up her mind to
marry Walter Treadway."
Have you told me everything
now. Doctor Marden?" Patrick
asked after a long pause.
Everything, l believe"