The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-13
CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT =.
At the sound of that high-pitched
voice, every one of us was startled
into unnatural stiffness. Cary, in
terrupted by the words, You
young whelp! What business nave
you-'' stood for a second or two
in silence, before dryly conclud-
ing:
II think that proves my conten'
tion."
His last word was scarcely ut
tered when Marks voice broke
across Miss Althea's now uninte!'
igible TRADE.
Somebody come quick! Through
the door under the stairs, she
locked the other one!'
Go, go!" Captain Essex fairly
pushed Cary, who promptly raced
away.
Janet and Kaye followed. Kaye
stretched out her hand and caugh'
mine as they passed. I yielded to
her imperative tug and rushed
along with them, grateful for her
compelling clasp, for my curiosity
was at white heat.
Out the door we dashed, down
the hall to the stairs, through a
door beneath them which 1 had
supposed led into closet, through
an alcove, into Miss Althea's room.
The scene before us I shall not
soon forget.
Miss Althea, her last remnant of
dignity gone, was struggling wild
ly gainst Cary's restraining
grasp, while Mark, on his knees,
was pulling papers and books from
the barely smouldering fire.
She had defeated her own pur'
pose. By piling too much onto the
low fire, she had smothered it, the
one thing which saved from de-
struction the papers she now was
struggling to regain.
Cary's face was grim. Mark S
bore a broad smile. For all his
aunt's frenzied jerks from the digs
and dabs at Cary, it was to MARI
her furious denunciation still was
directed. A fact which amused him
nightly.
What is the meaning of this?'
The captain, with Mrs. Gould's as
sistance, was crossing the room
Bang, tang, bang! The humping
of the cane, his words uttered II
a loud, commanding tone - anger
had renewed his waning strength
-cowed Miss Althea. Her strug
giles ceased; her voice died into
silence.
No one spoke. AS clearly as
though l had witnessed it, I knew
that Mark had caught his aunt at
tempting to burn the papers, the
last of which he now drew from
the fire and laid upon the hearth
Answer mel" Thurnp went tht
cane. The captain moved neare.
his daughter, raised his cane ant
brandished it in her face. Although
he had ordered her to speak, h
did not wait for her to reply.
''Althea Essex, for the last twen
ty-odd years you have been an in
cessant torment to me. I war;
you, my patience is completely ex
hausted. Tomorrow morning
shall begin inquiries for a suitable
place to put you. Have you under
my roof any longer, I will not. y
1 pitied the poor old captain. Ev.
cry particle of color was gone
from his face; his voice, so loue
and clear at the beginning of his
speech, ct the end was husky and
barely above a whisper. But il
was Miss Althea in whom the most
surprising change was worked.
The haggard lines in her face
deepened; her figure dropped and
shrank from his accusing words.
AT his conclusion, she uttered a
wild shrek and sagged forlornly
to the floor.
mo, no." she walled, 'it would
kill me to leave Purple Beeches
I won't touch anything again,
swear I WON'T
Like judge and jury in one, her
father regarded her. There was
no sign of relenting on his face.
"Get up off that floor" he or
dered. you're woman, not a
child. Stand up and answer my
questions.
Tears of rage and fear were
rolling down her cheeks. Not one
more word did she say, but obedi.
emily, with Cary's help, struggled
to her feet.
MARK" the captain turned te
his grandson, ''how did you know
SHE had the papers?"
II didn't know, sir, but l re
membered her peeking through the
door at us several times while we
were bringing the chests and desk
down. From the first time it was
mentioned. she has raved agains
Cary's book. She wasn't in the
room with us and, after all he1
talk, wouldn't she have been there
unless she knew something about
the empty chest?"
He stopped, but the captain
waved him on.
go on" he ordered. 'What die
you do?''
IT came to her door and tried it
It was locked. I'd never known hel
to do that before; we've always
been welcome to come in when we
pleased. I went around the stairs
and in at the other door. She wa:
piling all this stuff on the fire a.
fast as she could. l grabbed he1