The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-12
SYNOPSIS

Moving into the large household
of Captain Garry Essex II as sec
retary to the old seafarer's grand
son, young Cary, Nancy Deane soon
discovers strange atmosphere OF
antagonism over he genealogy
which the grandson is writing. Dis
regarding the hostility of H or e
Rand, an intimate, but not con-
genial, friend of the family, to-
ward the project. Captain Essex
opens the old sea chests of the
family to help in compiling the
genealogy, only to discover that
the chest of young Cary's father
has been emptied.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The sight of that empty chest
brought back the wave of fear
which once before had thrilled
through my body. Muttered words,
uneasy movements and quick steps
forward or back, plainly showed
the surprise of each member of
the family at the unexpected sight.
Not a paper, not tattered shred
of anything remained within the
chest. 1t was as clean as though
swept by the proverbial new broom.
Only bare discolored boards met
each persons searching gaze.
The old captains fragile form
was still supported by 'Cary's
strong arm. After the heartbreak
previously revealed by the cap
tain's words, Il did not open his
chest, couldn't, and-I never
thought to do so," I feared to See
him collapse under this sudden
blow. But Captain Cary Essex II
was made of sterner stuff. He raj
lied and spoke in an even stronger
voice than usual, although it held
a pathetic note:
Gone, all gone! My sons pa
pers!"
Gently Cary guided him to
chair.
sit down, Granddad. There
must be some explanation for
this His voice was consoling,
although surprise and dismay col
ored the tone.
From him I glanced around the
tense group. Mrs. Gould's face ex-
pressed blank amazement mingled
with active concern for her father.
She had hastened to his side, and
now stood with her hand resting
on his shoulder, her eyes anxi-
ously scanning his face.
Next her stood Horace Rand. His
SNUG expression riveted my gaze.
Could it be satisfaction he was
feeling? He looked up and caught
my eye. Across his features swept
a black scowl which, as he looked
away, changed quickly to mere
friendly interest.
The conversation I had over
heard last night flashed into my
mind. I was suspicious that that
old buzzard knew more than he
would care to admit about that
empty chest. Whatever the u1der-
current Of mystery overhangins the
Essexes might be, he was In it.
I was convinced of that.
looked for Miss Althea. She
was not in the room. Whether
she had been among us when We
entered or not, 1 did not know.
I had not noticed her and she
might have been there; all my
attention at that time was directed
toward the captain and the chests.
Sha hn h.
jected to Cary's book, to my pres
ence. Might she not, with the con-
nivance of the detestable Horace,
have removed the papers? Why
didn't someone do something, any,
thing, rather than stand here Idly
surveying the empty chest?
1t wasn't for me to voice my
vague suspicious. Only a secre-
tary, new one at that, my role
must, of necessity, be stric
minding of my own business.
A moving figure glimpsed from
the corner of my eye attracted
my attention. 1 turned my head.
Mark Gould was noiselessiy Slip
ping from the room. His expression
baffled me. Could I have been
misjudging Horace Rand and Miss
Althea? Could Mark know any
thing about the missing contents
of the chest?
He wasn't born when Captain
Essex III was lost on the Titanic.
Kaye had told me he was just
past his tWenty-first birthday, two
years younger than she was. No
old secret, scandalous or other
wise-I was certain there was
something of the sort from Miss
Althea's interrupted use of the
word "expos-''-could be known
to him.
That frank, honest face, hose
clear, guileless eyes, could never
hide a shameful secret. l was
barking up The wrong tree. The
guilty feline wasn't croucning
there.
'That chest was filled when it
was put into the attic. I know it
was!" Captain Essex's voice drew
me from my musing.
What In the dickens became Of
the things, them" Cary demand
ed, and Proctor Rand's voice
echoed:
"What?"
looked across the room at him.
On his face was what 1 Thought to
be honest bewilderment. Whatever
his father might be doing, Proctor
certainly was not implicated. Only
a 1zoru c1euer actnr-ana I LII