Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-11-11
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CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR


chiefs words: II don't like that
woman" had been directed to
Lancy, not to me. And l had fool
ishly j. blurted out my agreement
with his sentiments. When they
both looked at me, could feel the
shamed blood tearing into my
face.
I'm sorry" I said meekly. II
won't butt in again."
I'm glad you did" Lancy replied
quietly. you merely took the
words out of my mouth. Miss Cor
don, why don't you like Miss
Easton and Barry? L presume he is
the other you mean 2"
Eyes," said eagerly. Now that
they permitted me to speak, I in
tended to tell it all at once. I told
about the time I found Coral
prowling in the upper hail. Of how
she looked when Josie, in the Hill
House bathhouse, told her the inn
would never be Meals. I repeated
what Bruce Orion said when Neal
asked him if he saw anyone around
the Rutherford cottage the night
Mrs. Rutherford was poisoned. I
just poured it all out, and they sat
and listened patiently.
eft seems to go back to those
two every time," the chief said
when I finished Every indication
points their way. But why? Why?"
We'll have Orion in," announced
Lancy. I'm beginning to believe
that the poisoning and the search
OF Miss Peake's room were the
planned two steps which led to Mrs.
Peake's murder
But why poison Mrs. Rutherford
or the doctor? You know he still
declares the poison was meant for
him"
"Maybe" it was and maybe it
wasn't" answered the detective. "I
haven't an idea either way. Per-
haps Orton can help us along"
Unlike Coral, Bruce Orion did
not seem at all disturbed at being
called away from the card game
going on in the lounge. Unable to
return to their own rooms while
the searchers were at work, the
boarders at Hill House set up the
card tables and insisted that every
one play. Was I glad that I was
busy in the office! If there is one
thing which detest it is cards. But
I'm a regular dub at them, which
probably is the answer to my pet
peeve.
"Orton, I want you to tell us
your story Of what happened here
at Hill House last Sunday night
Take your time and don't leave out
the smallest thing which you no.
ticed was said or done by anyone
Orion looked family surprised at
the request, but only asked:
where shall begin?"
AT dinner. believe that was the
first mention of Mrs. Rutherford's
prowler. I want everything from
that time on"
Fright, sir" Orton's memory
was good. He told of the conversa-
ton at the table, of Meals refusing
to go to the club with Coral. He re-
membered, just as I did, Barry's
exultant attitude when Coral saiC
she would go with him.
'"They left us then. The rest OF
us went into the lounge. Josie went
out first; 4then Rhoda and Duncan
decided to go for ride. Miss Cor
don refused to go and went out or
the terrace. I chatted bit longer
with the Rutherfords until they
too, decided to go for ride. They
asked me to go with them, but
thought if I stuck around Josie
might come back. waited fifteer
minutes or so; then went to my owr
cottage; and was there reading
when Neal put Tinker back in his
run after exercising him.
II called him in and asked if hi
knew where Josie was. He said h;
didn't, that he hadn't seen her since
dinner. We just sat there talking
about everything in general anC
nothing in particular, until Josie
dashed in and said DR.. Paul wanted
Neal at ethe Rutherford cottage
that Mrs. Rutherford was sick.
II told Neal" went on Orion
"that if there were anything coulC
do for him to whistle and I'd ru1
over. don't know a thing abou
sickness, and with two doctors OF
the job I knew I would only be il