The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-06
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

they must have heard my voice clea1
over to the bathing beach. I nevel
was so excited in my life. That let
ter explained everything, of course.
ALAN, WHAT was in the letter.
cried Josie a second time. She was
trembling with the urgency OF hel
desire.
why, 1 don't know" Alan calm
ly replied. Captain Lancy grabbed
the letter and read it. Then he put
1t in his pocket, and we got into
the car and came home. He didn'1
say one word, except that I wasn't
to tell anyone but you two and tel
you to keep IT TO yourselves"
The anti.climax was too much fol
me. There we were, all stirred uI
over that letter, and now we hac
no possible way of finding out what
was in it. I began to laugh.
couldn't help it. 1t vas so abso-
luteiy ridiculous.
IL don't think it is anything to
laugh at" Josie said in a disgrun-
tI,d Way .;h III mace me laugh hard
er than ever
Maybe it's not" I gasped be-
tween chuckles when l could speak
"but we MAY as we'll laugh as cry
And at that Josie did manage a wry
smile.
Neal came around the orn of
the house just then and Joined US
We couldn't say any more, which
probably was as well. In a few mo-
ments Josie and Alan wandered Oft
somewhere and Neal and l had a
long conversation by ourselves.
1t was really only the second time
/ had talked with him. That nor
ing when l made friends with Tin
ker was the first time, but since
then whatever we had said to each
ether vas concerned only with af-
fairs at Hill House or his mothers
death.
This time our chat was about
ourselves and personal things
Coral Easton wasn't mentioned, but
someway, from the things Nea.
DIDN'T say, l was convinced thai
he had cut her out Of his life fo.
good. l can't quote any one thing
which made me feel that he was
becoming interested in the red
headed freckle-face who sat by his
siGc, yet when the Call came for
luncheon l knew in my heart that !
had made considerable progress.
Sunday afternoon Vas a quiet
time. l had a nap, then dressed
ready for dinner and went down to
the terrace. 1t wcs the coolest, as
Wen as the pleasantest, place
around the house, and l hoped that
Neal Eli:,ilt wander back that way
bore t'":er.
AS I came down the stairs, the
door OF the office opened and Joseph
Barry came out. His face was white
and haggard, his eyes were
strained and weary. He actually
staggered as he walked through tEe
lounge and toward his own cottage.
Every bit of his arrogant swasger
had disappeared. He looked az de
flated as an diversified tire after a
bad blowout.
When l looked at the clock and
tound it was a quarter past four
and recalled that he had left the
dining wing with Lancy, I decided
jhat lo hoI mt bod xynru n1oocorf
afternoon. But there wasn't a sign
ot handcuffs. Was 1 wrong in my
conclusions? Wasn't Joseph Barry
the murderer we were all looking
for? If he were not, where were
We to turn?
l might just as we'll have worn
my Oldest dress instead of my pref
test. Neal didn't appear on the ter
race. l sat there for hours, pretend
ing to read, and getting more jit-
terry as each moment passed. When
Pauline rutherford appeared, ]
greeted her as warmly as though
she were the sister l never pos
SeSsed.
This is Jul last day here" she
said. after we chatted a bit
Mother is SO that Paul
thinks she will be better at home.
He wanted to go this afternoon, but
n more day. So we go tomor-
row.
Il don't think we'll ever come
back" she went on, after I express
ed regret for her mothers Slow re-
covery. Il used to think this was
the loveliest place, but now I never
want to see it again"
Are your brother and Neal going
to open an office together?" I asked
the question simply, for something
to say.
They've planned to do so for a
long time,' she replied, "but I don't
know if they will. Some of moth
er s investments have stopped pay
ing, SO we're going to live very
quietly this winter. I'm not going
back to school,"
"IIn go over to see your mother
after dinner" I told her, as the din
aer CONS doomed its signal.
Dinner was not a very lively
neal. Captain Lancy did not appear.
Coral Easton seemed unusually sub.
lued, Bruce Orion was glum, and
Joseph Barry in a vile humor. He
snapped at everything said to him
until, in self defense, we directed Oh
conversation to others and ignored
ais existence.
Neal mas much disturbed over the
2utheEford's leaving. 1t wasn't