Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-25
CHAPTER THREE

'tlNEN hurricane would nave
difficulty moving anything as cum
bersomc and weighty as Miss Ivy's
spite fence" l returned lightly
Then added: Have you found out
any more about it, Rhoda ?"
The spite fence? Not a word
It's never mentioned here so far
as | know. The first year l came
here a boarder told me that Miss
wv and Mrs. Peake are sisters,
that they quarreled and that Miss
Ivy built the spite fence. 1t had
been standing then for four years,
and I've been here six summers, so
she must have built it ten years
ago. That. all 1 know"
Its a funny situation," said
musingly. I'D like to know the
truth about it."
$50 would l." agreed Rhoda, but
we probably never will. Hurry,
Sally. there's the dinner gong"
l gave a last pat to my hair and
we went out to the lounge. There
were seven strangers there. but
Rhoda's introductions were so hur-
rled and sketchy that it was not
until we were seated around the
table in the dining wing that 1
began to attach names to individ
ualS.
Mrs. Peale presided over the ta-
BILE and Chloe served deftly. The
food was delicious and, naturally,
I ate a great deal more than in
tended.
Josephine Peake, daughter of our
landlady (Mrs. Peake is really
Meals and Josies stepmother, al
though no own mother and children
can be more devoted) is a perfect
darling. She sat next to me at din
ner and we were friends from our
first words
She is two years younger than 1,
twenty-three, small and dainty,
with silky, wavy brown main laugh
ing brown eyes, pert expression
and a nimble tongue which kept
the table in gale of laughter. She
has the same striking good looks
that Neal has, but in her they are
more delicate, truly feminine. Her
coloring is like his and their voices
are almost identical, hers being
very deep for a woman and his
higher than is usual in a man.
I'm so glad you came" Josie
said heartily as soon as we were
served. "Rhoda's told us so much
about you that feel as though we
are old friends"
Across the table Neal was pay
ing assiduous attention to a
striking looking woman. He caught
Josie's words and glanced ov: .. with
a smiling bow at me and a cav:
"As we're going to be-"
The woman by his side, Coral
Easton, threw me nasty sidewise
look as Neal spoke. She didn't like
rae, that was evident, but she liked
NeaPs remark still less.
No one can deny that Coral is
attractive. She has great black
eyes fringed with the longest
blackest eyelashes in CAPTIVITY
Satlny black hair massed high on
her head il an array of curis. an
oiive complexion and enough lip-
SUCK to stock a theatrical dressino
room give her an exotic appear
ance. She is older than Neal Mid
ole thlrty is my guess at her ape
ana Neal is only twenty-six. He is
apparently devoted to her hanos
upon her words and waits rnon ber
ny lnches: But I wonder just how
sood wife she would make for
strugSllng young doctor. This is
.Sedl ) llrst year as a hospital in
terne, and it would take more than
nus salary to pay her hairdresser,s
bill alone. 'i o''ei
s.oldn Dldn see Miss Ivy Newcomb
Sliooing you away from her place ?"
demanded Pauline Rutherford snin
piiy' 0he didn't like Meals remark
20 me any better than Coral did
whenever Neal speaks she cbins in
WIN what she intends TO he a
orlght remark, but which more
oiIeh IS plain stupid or silly.
foor Pauline. She is as mnch in
,'';t5 ,ovI WIN Neal as he appears to be
win Coral; but she. at ty,en+,,
n1S nasnt the finished technique o. the
4I 41uei: more sophisticated. woman
f1er idea of the way to attract
man is TO chase him about ever,,
moment possible and be as fresh as
~et PANT. AS far as | can iudce
YEA doesn't know she is on earth
She is cute LOOKING with o., 80.