The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-24
CHAPTER XIU-Continued

'What did they want?" he asked.
Just clustering" Macpherson
said. 'I suppose it relieved their
minds"
I'VE had lots of company last
night" Mrs. Macpherson went on.
"a girl reporter as saucy as blue
jay. She knew all about your fam
lily and that you'd been to Princeton
college and had a job this summer
working around the place. She said
she was writing a feature story for
the Sunday newspaper and asked
me if you'd shown any tendency
toward wil6ness when you were
younger. I made short work of
her." she concluded in a tone of
grim satisfaction.
II can believe that" Jim smiled.
ANY other visitors while 1 was
sleeping?"
"A young fellow What was his
name?" Mrs. Macpherson appealed
to her husband who shook his head.
"Oh yes" she continued. Herbert
something or other, sandy young
man with an adams apple and
sort of solemn expression"
Hes the pharmacy clerk at the
drugstore" Jim said.
II felt sorry for him." Mrs.
MacPherson's expression softened.
Its as plain as the nose on your
face that he's dead in love with the
girl that was hurt. Shell do better
to take ur with nice steady-look-
ing young fellow like that than go
gallivanting around the country
with somebody who'd steal a car
and leave her along the side of
road. Girls haven't grain of sense.
A little dash of excitement goes to
their heads"
Did he want anything-especial-
1y," Jim asked, ''other than to tar
and feather me and ride me out of
town on a rail?"
He's pretty much cut up about
the girl" Macpherson replied. He
seemed to want to know the truth
about the accident"
Who doesn't?" Jim asked crisp
". Incredible as it may seem, I'd
Like to know myself"
1T must have been somebody off
the place. Mrs. Macpherson said
musingly. Somebody who knew
%hof Mr. U,yohy, ooL
Miss Cecily was going to a party
that night"
II thought of Tommy" Jim said.
EARLY in the summer. when first
came here, Tommy thought he was
having heavy affair with Dolly.
He has gotten over it thoroughly
enough to have transferred his af-
fections to a girl who's been visit
ing at the Bea ches'. He was with
her at the time of the accident.
lie had the Pierce-Arrow."
Hmm" Macpherson said.
when he returned the se6an to the
garage later on, did he notice that
Miss Cecily's car wasn't there?"
Jim grinned. I'D make a fine
detective, wouldn't I? It didn'. oc-
cur to me to ask him. I doubt
very much whether he would have
noticed, anyway. Love seems to
make Tommy absent-minded."
Macpherson cleared his throat.
Have you any idea who took
Miss Cecily's car that night" Mac
Pherson asked directly.
Jim hesitated for a moment. ST
have vague theory" he replied,
@'but no actual proof. If you don't
mind, I'd rather not speak of it un-
til l have talked to Mr.. Vaughn.
Don: think I'm unwilling to trust
you He glanced at Macpherson
In quick apology. you've been fine
about everything. But this theory
of mine-Fd rather go into it first
with Mr.. Vaughn"
MacPherson's glance met Jim's
steadily for moment and Jim
fancied that there was comprehen-
sion as well as sympathy in the
keen gray eyes under the shaggy
broWs.
II understand" Macpherson said
quietly. He rose from his chair
with simulated briskness well, I
must see about getting the ground
ready for the bulbs that came this
morning. They're beauties, Jim
imported tulips. They should make
fine showing next spring"
And I'm going over to the riding
-ademy." Jim's face was grim. II
suppose the men working there have
heard about the accident. Well, I'd
have to make an appearance some
time. Might as well get it over. !"
You'll come back here for lunch,
Jamie?" Mrs. Macpherson asked,
obviously reluctant to let Jim 60.
'Oh, yes," he said. 'I want to
see Mr.. Vaughn as soon as he ar
rives."
Jim walked out into the sunshine,
through the orchard, along the
drive. In the stable-yard Cecily
was about to dismount from Lady.
Jim was a little surprised. Cecily
hadn't ridden the horse, to his GER
tain knowledge, since Jeremy Clyde
had come to "Meadowbrook. And
he had thought that she would be
sleeping late this morning. Still