The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-26
CHAPTER NINETEEN


lay plain before me. l was the
'her" Miss Althea had told her to
see. This must be new move n
the attempt to drive me from Pur-
pie Beeches. Before l answered
Jabez, l glanced at the bookcases.
Every door was securely closed.
Show her in here, Jabez'
please"
pushed the easy chair which
Cary and Kaye SO lately had oc-
cupied farther away and took my
accustomed seat behind my desk.
Whatever might arise in this in
terview, l was going to retain the
advantage of my position. I would
be strictly courteous, but she would
do the talking, l determined.
From her entrance one would
have thought her queen condes-
cending to the lowest of her SUBJ
jects. She haughtily refused the
chair 1 offered, and l calmly re-
sumed my seat.
You wished to see me?" That
was noncommittal gambit.
yes" she snapped.
coolly looked at her and waited.
I wasn't going to help her out. She
didn't mince matters. In her first
sentence she said just what I had
expected.
How much will you take to
leave Purple Beeches today?"
Il am not open to bribes." My
voice was as smooth as melted but
ter las long as Captain Essex
wishes me to stay here-I shall
stay"
Which won't be long she
snarled. Then, insinuatingly: I'VE
are having your record investigat-
ed"
At that I laughed in her face.
Fine! The more thoroughly you
investigate, the better satisfied l
shall be. And" I said meaninsly,
Il think Captain Essex will be in
terested to know that you are try
ing to bribe me to leave his house"
That was carrying war into her
territory. And what l said be-
lieved. If I went with the story to
him, I could foresee fireworks.
She looked as disdainfully at me
as though I were rose beetle she
would like to dunk in a kerosene
tin and forget, but I caught the
faint quiver of dismay which swept
over her features. By that I knew
that I was one shot ahead.
IF you tattle this conversation
to him, I'll deny it," she cried
hotly.
And at that my temper blazed.
With all the contempt I felt, l
looked straight at her.
Anyone who would stoop to brib-
cry would be liar" I said dis
tinctly.
Anger contorted her features.
Her voice lost that suaveness which
! so detested, took on a shriller
note.
IF you had any decency at all,
you wouldn't stay in place where
you're not wanted"
$50 far you and Miss Althea are
the only ones who do not want me
here. Don't deny it, actions speak
louder than words,' as she started
to speak, land, frankly, I'm not at
all interested in what you or she
desire or do not desire.'
You're making trouble for
everybody by staying here" furi-
ously. Anger was destroying every
bit of her beauty. Cross her often
enough and she'd be hag by the
time she was thirty!
Il don't think so. came here to
work on Mr.. Essexs book, and it is
going splendidly." I was deter
mined to bait her until she lost her
temper and blurted out what lay
behind their fine plan.
That book" The scorn in her
voice was so thick you could al
most pick it out of the air. That's
the most ridiculous thing! Imagine
writing book about this family!"
The captain doesn't think it is
ridiculous. He is delighted with it,"
He would be! He's so old he's
senile!''
He says that about Miss AL.
thea. Of the two, I'm sure he's
nearer right
Everyone else can see how alb
surd the idea is.'' She completely
Ignored What I had said.
by everyone else, you must
mean Miss Althea, your father and
yourself. Except for her every
member Of the Essex family is
much pleased with the idea. So far
as l can see, it's none of your busi-
ness. Kindly say what you have to
say and 60" I wasn't going to sit
quietly by and hear her berate the
captain any longer. rose from my
chair and took a step toward the
archway, but she stepped before
me.
you'll listen to what I have to
say!" Her voice was menacing.
Her eyes were as green as a cats
with the spark in their depths
which warned that sharp claws
were about to be unsheathed.
I drew myself to my tallest
height and waited. My apparent
imperturbability broke her control
just as I had thought it would do.
You're making trouble between
Cary and me-" she stormed. Until
you came here he was devoted to
me. Now he spends all his time
working on that fool book. Do you
suppose I want my future husband
shut up here day after day with
SyoYYo,,