The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-10-06
CHAPTER x1I-continued

at her shoulder so that they reao u
together.
Miss Leaford began getting
supper before dark. Everyone
came to supper except Mrs.
Bowdon. They came in relays.
About 1850 Mrs. Tame came to
put Mr.. and Mrs. Hurder to bed.
About eight, Asa Tame came
for cup of tea, used milk out
of the bottle.
After he left, Mrs. Tame heat
ed milk for Mr.. and Mrs. Hurd-
er. Rab Tame came in to say
good night. The milk was on the
stove, He stood near the stove.
Then he left for Providence.
About 1925 Mrs. Tame left,
Mr.. and Mrs. Hurder in bed.
About $3.50 Miss Leaford
turned out downstairs lights and
went to her room. About BAD
she met Clint outside.
About l1:O5 Clint and Miss
Leaford returned and stopped in
front Of the house.
About 11:10 they saw the fire.
At 11:19 exactly, the alarm
was rung in. The apparatus ar
rived at exactly 1923. Mrs.
Tame and Asa arrived at the
fire about 11:21.
At exactly 1851 Mrs. Tame
put in call for Providence to
her son.
While June and Clint studied this
schedule in silence, Tope explained:
"You know when you went up
stairs, and when you went out to
meet Clint; and I've guessed at the
times before that. ] know when
the alarm was rung in, and when
the apparatus arrived; and by al
lowing for all you and Clint did after
you saw the fire and before the ap-
paratus arrived, can figure out
about the time you saw the fire."
eyes," June said. '"This seems
about right"
'.I've record of the call to Prov
idence," Tope added. ''How bad
was the fire then-when your aunt
went to phone?"
..The whole house was burning"
June decided. .T ras
Tope nodded. There's one other
question I've got to ask you," he
said gravely. ''Do you think any
one of-your relatives might have
given your mother poison? Or set
the house on fire?'
'.No, no. June whispered. 'sThey
were hard and stubborn; but No.
No."
"Did any of them except your
mother ever take sleeping-pow-
der?" he insisted.
She hesitated. ''Why, yes" she
said doubtfully. "'Uncle Justus did"
And she explained in faint amuse-
ment: ''He really had insomnia,
sometimes. It seems odd, because
he could always sleep in chair:
but sometimes he couldn't sleep in
bed. Doctor Cabler gave him some
tablets once; but Aunt EVE took
them away from him, wouldn't let
him use them. So poor Uncle Justus
used to ask me to give him tablet
out Of Mothers bottle, now and
then; and know Rab took some
for him once"
when was that?" Tope asked
gravely.
'sAbout month ago." June re-
fiected. 81 found Rab in the bath
room; he told me-"
Tope wagged his head; but he
did not push this matter further.
Ibid you know Miss Thayer?" he
asked. ''Her names LISA"
eyes," June assented. s'That is.
] saw her sometimes, when was
walking in the woods
'sDid you ever see your cousin
Asa with herr" Tope asked. The
girl shook her head; and Tope ex-
planned:
II saw them kiss each other to-
night, at the FIRE. They were back
in the shadows, but saw"
"Asa?" June cried incredulously.
''You never knew anything about
that?" ~
"Oh, no." she declared. "But II
Asa loved her, he wouldn't have
dared tell anyone. They'd have been
furious. Aunt Evie, and Grandma
Bowdon, mean" -
.sYou think so?" Tope prompted
her. u
"Yesi Mother used to tell me-"
She hesitated, went bravely on:
ssMother used to tell me that If ]
married without their consent, they
would crush me. They did crush
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