The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-14
CHAPTER NINE

At her fathers piteous utterance,
Il am afraid your sister is de-
mented," Mrs. Gould cried out
hastily:
"Oh, no, Father"
Then why does she act as
though she were?" impatiently.
"She knows she has no right to
her brothers papers, no right to
raise a fuss about Cary's writing.
Tomorrow I'm going to have DR..
Barnett see her. He'll soon tell
US what's wrong with her. I can't
90 on this way, Beulah. She's
wearing me out, and want to
live to read the Essex Book" He
smiled affectionately up into
Cary's face, then turned to Mark:
and as for you, young fellow,
you're a true Essex, a cred~ 10
the name! Now pile those papers
together. Well take them back to
the little room, get the others and
carry them all to the library"
THE Rands" exclaimed Mrs.
Gould. II forgot all about them
They're all right" declared the
captain. "Quite old enough to take
care Of themselves for a time. I'm
surprised that they haven't ap-
peared in here before this"
'Mr. Rand did look in the door
while you were talking to Aunt
Althea," Mark explained. He
couldn't help but hear some Of
what you were saying. I presume
when he found it vas purely a
family matter, he decided the best
place for him was in the other
room"
I didn't agree with Mark. I, too,
had caught that surreptitious
thrusting in and immediate with
drawal of Horace Rand's head.
His meaning glance had conveyed
some message to Miss Althea, l
was sure. It was just after that
that she seemed so completely to
regain her control.
l wondered if while we were in
her room Rand, his son and daugh-
ter, were peering and prying into
the other chests and the desk. But
I was Understanding the cap
tain's intelligence.
Old Jabez was placed on guard
while the family was absent. Cap
tain Essex's last words, before he
followed us to Miss Althea's room.
were for him not to leave the room
for anything. After that command,
Jabez would not be ousted by a
cyclone.
Sorry to leave you 50 long
alone, Rand" began the captain
when he was again comfortably
seated.
mot at all, not at ALL" muir
INJURED Horace Rand in a voice as
smooth as boiled mustard. I'VE
were very comfortable here. I hope
you recovered the missing arti-
cles."
Every last one of Them"
laughed the captain. His strength
was amazing. Only a few moments
ago he was dropping with fatigue.
Now he seemed as bright and alert
As ever.
"Althea had a rash idea of puri-
fication by fire or som such
thing" he continued, in a facetious
voice, but we arrived in time to
rescue the sacrifice"
1 caught a peculiar flicker of
Rand's eyelashes and a momen-
tary drawing in Of his lips. The
captains Jews was certainly un-
welcome to him.
well, as long as 1t has all end
ed in your favor, I think We'll run
along home. We didn't intend to
stay so long when We dropped in,
but this mix-up rather compelled
1t. Before leaving, 1 wanted to
know how things turned out with
you"
The captain nodded. He did not
seem inclined to say more,
Rand appeared eager to get away.
Irene and Proctor exchanged a few
words with the others, but I felt
that the goodbys on both sides
were strained and not too cordial.
They had scarcely left us when
the captain began to issue orders.
"Beulah, you and Janet 60 into
the library, clear the things off
the big table, and when these pa
pers are brought in there don't
you leave them for one instant"
They hurried from the room, and
the captain turned to his grand
sons.
mark, you carry an armful of
this stuff into the library and stay
there with your mother and Janet.
Cary, you, with Kaye and Nancy"
his sharp eyes rested on each face
in turn, carry the rest. Keep each
lot separate. When the last load
has gone, I'll come along"
I was pleased to hear the cap
tain include me in the work with
Kaye. 1t seemed to make me one
OF the family and, more than ever.
I wanted to stay at Purple Beech
es.
It did not take us very long to
move the contents Of the chests
and desk to the library. I hap
pened to be the last one to cross
the hall with a few remaining pa
pers, and the captain walked I'M
seadily at my side.
My heart gave a sudden lurch,
r as I glanced farther down the hall