The midland journal., 1946-03-22
CHAPTER XIII

up at the lodge?" he suggested.
Clothes, yes. Fishing things are
at home. Why?"
"I'I lend you mine," said Tope.
'Wait here" He turned to Mrs.
Tope. "You come along, ma'am,"
he suggested mildly, ease can't
find things"
So they departed toward Cascade
together; and Adam wondered what
instructions Tope was giving Mrs.
Tope Then the old man returned
alone, rod in hand, pockets bulging.
1--WE got all you'll need, Mr..
Eberly," he said. "Now want to
make a phone-call to Whitlock-
we may need him. Then I'll be
with you."
Upon the dot of half-past four, Mr..
Eberly, alone, wearing shoe-pacs,
riding breeches, loose flannel shirt
and bulky hunting coat buttoned
TO his throat, came in his own car
up the drive to the Ledforge place
in the hills above Ridgcomb. Mr..
Eberly was rather pale, but steady.
The driveway forked, little be-
low the house; one way led to the
house itself, the other toward the
garages and the service wing. Mr..
Eberly turned in that direction, and
as he came to the court upon which
the garages faced, he pressed his
horn.
There were living quarters above
The stalls for the cars. At one OF
the windows there a man appeared,
called: Fright, Carl. I'll be down."
Mr.. Eberly stayed in the car, kept
his engine running. A pulse was
humping family in his throat. Led
forge, his fishing gear in his hands,
q moment later appeared. He came
briskly toward the car, gray
haired little man with long nose,
deep lines framing his mouth, some
thing suggestive Of the Oriental in
Che cant Of his eyes. He glanced
behind him toward the house,
climbed into the car, grasped Eber-
N by the hand.
"How are you, Carl?"
"First rate" Eberly assured him.
He added: ST phoned to make sure
you had arrived. You so often have
to change your plans"
LUCKY you did," Ledforge
agreed. ''My sister has callers.
Your Miss Dewain, and an IRON
jawed woman I don't know. Alice
fuses about my wearing woods
clothes in the house. That's why I
told you to come here instead Of the
front door," And he said: "The
trout should rise. Winds wester-
IT,"
Eberly made no comment. He was
guiding the car up the winding road
toward the trout pond, and a thick
growth Of hemlock and pine had al
ready hidden from their view the
house below them.
Ledforge remarked: ''I'm in
fishing mood, Carl. Sick of New
York. I'd like to stay up here a
month and do nothing but fish with
you"
"How are things in New York;"
Ledforge said, moving his shoul-
ders as though to shake off a bur-
den: "Well, I've had an unpleasant
few days. Holdom has gone wrong,
Carl. But let me forget business.
Been doing any fishing?"
SCOT a new rod" Eberly replied.
"And I've gone back to snelled
dies"
'tThe trout won't know the differ
ence," Ledforge chuckled. well,
here we are"
Eberly pulled up beside the boat
house, and they got out and began
10 set UP their rods. ''We're here
Just at the right time" Ledforge
decided. "Best fishing is from now
&ill dark"
Eberly nodded, and they turned
toward the boathouse.
Ledforge was ahead, Eberly be-
hind: and Eberly cleared his throat
rather loudly, and he asked In q
strained tone:
RUFUS, you feel all right?"
Ledforge whirled to look at him.
Certainly I'm tired, but I'm al
ways tired. Why?"
81 don't quite know" Eberly ad-
naitted. Something about you
seems-different. Your voice, and
the way you handle that rod; and
you look little thinner"
Ledforge laughed, not mirthfully.
ssIf you'd been working as hard as
land I've slight cold"
Eberly nodded. $50 have /.
That's why bundled up against this
wind" He added insistently: II
don't know what it is. The way you
Walk, maybe. You look taller
Nonsense" Ledforge CURLY in
nisted. "Come. Get inl" He slid
liae canoe into the water.
.'I feel lot more secure In the
gnWbbat." Eberly suggested.
s'And % do the rcsA1." Lediorge