The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-15
CHAPTER I


The bright disc of fiashlight moved
over the rough pine paneling of the
door, found and Illuminated the key
hole under the latch. Gabrielle Ora.
ham, fitting the key into the lock,
knew that her fingers were trem-
bling.
"It works." she said with forced
composure, then, expectancy in her
voice and oddly, too, muted note
of reluctance, she added little
breathlessly, "Kate, we're here!"
$50 I presumed" There was no
expectancy in Kate divers pleas
antly drawing voice, only weari-
ness, characteristic humor, a casual
acceptance of life's little surprises.
81 agree with you, though" she
continued. "It does, at the moment,
appear to be a notable achieve
ment. Like scaling the Alps, for
instance. feel as though I had
scaled an Alp. I'm practically par
alyzed all over"
"Poor Kate!" Gay said, but the
words, absently spoken, held more
of personal preoccupation than SYM
pathy for her companion. "Never
mind" she added, still absently, but
in a tone of warm affection. We'll
have a fire and food pretty soon."
81 can use both," Kate said feel
ingly. "How are the beds?"
Kate was aware of her hesitancy.
"Give me the flashlight," she
said. "I'l 60 ahead"
Gays glance turned quickly, re-
sentfully.
"Why should your" she asked a
trif1e sharply.
mo reason" Kate replied with
mistaken good humor. "Just trying
to be helpful. It's an irritating hab-
it. I didn't mean to imply that you
might be frightened.
''Of course you did," Gays low,
clear laugh was plea for forgive
ness. ''I'm not, though" she added.
She would not admit misgivings, not
even to Kate, who, during this tir-
ing trip to the cabin in Maine had
been disarmingly injurious, re-
sourceful, amusing. People got at
you if you let your defenses down.
She pushed the door wide open and
stepped inside. The temperature of
the room was warmer than the air
outside, as though there'd been a
fire, she thought fleetingly and dis
missed the idea as absurd. The cab
in had been closed for three years,
since Uncle John died. Not very
securely closed, though. The pale
rectangles in the wall were win
dows. Shouldn't there have been
something shutters, boarding, per-
haps? A question, startling in i'm
plication, just touched the edge Of
her mind
SIS that a wood-range?" Kate
asked.
eyes," Gay replied. "Do you
think we can manage it,"
Certainly" Kate said with conf
dence. "On second thought, though,
who cuts the wood?"
well buy it cut or have boy
out from the village"
"That relieves my mind. I'm not
so good with an AK
Kate pressed against Gays Shout
der to look into the room. whats
the apparatus for?" she asked in
an interested voice.
The fiashlight disclosed a table
with porcelain top on which were
jars, test-tubes, an object which
might be an alcohol stove, an as
sortment of bottles. The built-in
bed was neatly spread with blan-
kets. There were no other furnish
ings except straight wooden chair.
Strange odor," Kate said, sniff
ing. Smells like a hospital or a
chemist shop"
Something Uncle John left, sup
pose," Gay said entirely at ran
dom. Fluids for developing films,
perhaps" she added slowly. "He
was interested in photography. He
had a great many hobbies"
The explanation appeared to sat-
isfy Kate. She made no further
comment. It did not satisfy Gay
though on the surface it was plaus-
ible. Uncle John had been interest
ed in photography. But would the
odor have remained in the room for
three years? Wouldn't the fluids in
the bottles insecurity covered with
circles of gauze have evaporated
during the time that the cabin had
been closed? And what had test
tubes tordo with kodak films? Again,
and with greater insistence, the
question startling in intimation
forced its way into her mind.
"These are the living quarters,
Gay turned the light through Sec
ond door opening from the kitchen
at right angles to the first. The no
ton was absurd, she told herself
steadyingly. The cabin was her per-
sonal property free from restric-
tions or reservations Compact and
convenient. No elevators, no stairs
to climb. Living-room, drawing
room. dining-roonn all in one" she
concluded. i. II ~. ts y "a