Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-23
CHAPTER TWO


THE SOUND of those spiteful
words: IF yol- have stared quite
long enough, you may drive on" so
startled me that I jumped Violent
ly and, of course, claShed my
gears with a raucous grinding as
l cast one backward glance over
my shoulder. Inside the picket
fence, so close she could have
stretched out her hand and
touched me, stood a woman.
She was close to six feet tall, thin
to the point of emaciation, with
haggard lined face, cold brown
eyes and the sourest mouth I ever
had seen. She was certainly Weaned
on something much more acidulous
than a mere pickle. Her stringy
neck rose from a ruff1e of sad-loOk-
ing lace and her long claWlike fin
gers gripped the tops of two pick
cts as she glared at me. Her entire
atmosphere yelled Little America,
and I drove away from there in a
hurry.
Just. beyond the spite fence was
the driveway to Hill House. AS I
turned in through the wide gate
way-Hill House. too, has its white
picket fence-I cast another glance
over my shoulder. Miss Ivy, still
gripping the pickets, stoot. looking
after me. knew was in the New
comb-Peake feud for good now, for
I had added insult to injury by 60
ing to her sisters inn after laugh
ing at Miss Ivy's architectural
monstrosity. l didn't care. After
the close view of her that 1 had I
was perfectly willing to remain on
her black list forever.
AS braked the car to d stop and
looked around, it was easy to see
how Hill House, as Rhoda had said.
had once been the exact twin to the
cottage beyond the spite fence.
From the front it still looked the
same, was, in fact, the same shape
and size, but ellis. gables, porches
and semi-attached cottages trailed
from the back like the rear view
of Halley's comet.
A fine-looking young chap ran
down the steps and my heart did a
neat f1ip-fop when he smiled at me
Good afternoon. Are you Miss
Gordon ?" he asked.
Sally to YOU" I muttered under
my breath, while I smiled sweetlv
and admitted that was my name.
I'm Neal Peake. I'll attend to
your luggage and put the car in
the parking space" he went on.
With a flourish which made me feel
like the Duchess of Windsor. he
opened the car door.
Here's Miss Gordon. mother )"
He raised his voice and. LOOKING he
yond him I saw a woman standing
on the steps.
Her smile was as sweet and well
coming as Nears, but the contra st
between her and her sister Miss
IVY was so startling I almost
gasped
At liberal estimate, Mrs Peake
was not more than five feet three
ana her width made her look even
shorter. | could only liken her to
an animated bolster, with extra nil.
lows lacked on here and there ana
' ,ne several chins of a dowager sea-
non. Her brown eyes were warn,
ana tWlnkling. tucked into rolls Of
idughter-Wohbling flesh. and tbe,,
peamed at me with the walconoo .
RnOQd had declared ,,,o,,,,
ceive. "o''iu re-
Come right in, Miss Gordon ;.
ller voice was sweet and low with
husky contralto quality which
was most attractive. 1T do haoa
you s; re I. not too tired after your lone
ns 1ano sie spoke she led me across
larse comfortable lounge. where
several @ persons were chatting into
wing corridor. There she thro,,,
open a door into one of the nrott: y
cupied. ei nave oc-
noI r93,, own all the roses on Lone pine inc
M nil' Tor large glass bowl IN 'e .
LIE LIE spilled its fragrant trailino .
oorer oloorS over the white spotless s
with 40 nope you'll enjoy your stay
.If IF" uo,, Us, Mrs. Peake continued
~ II you're not comfortable. Ieeu nles -
e me know and I'm sure 7 oar
''"Ne you SO. I'll send Chloe in with With
!