Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-09-19
CHAPTER TX

turning and turning the ndndle OF
the egg beaten, and listening while
Todd's easy flow of words came
from the corner where he was care
fully keeping out of the way.
And then, dropped casually into
the middle of an outline of this
plot, the question: "By the way,
several people have mentioned the
name of Serena, as if I should rec
ognize it. Who was she?"
Nella did not start nor seem
troubled. nor hesitate. She looked
round at him, her face sweeter
than ever in it's absolute calm. "Oh,
poor Serena! She taught us all
what tragedy was, dying so young
the first one out of our genera
ton to go. Why, she was Gilbert's
sister. She was much younger than
he, but when he got out of college
they set up housekeeping together.
He simply adored her."
"And Gilbert's sister died. How
long ago." Todd asked.
"Oh-five years ago. Her illness
was long and terribly painful, in
f1ammatory rheumatism. Of course
Gilbert gave her every care. Poor
Serena, she was the most beautiful
thing you ever saw, and it broke
her heart to be so dependent on
Gilbert, and know that he was go
ing deeper and deeper into debt
over her illness. And such pain!
It's no sin, / hope, to say that 1t
was the most blessed relief when
she died-to all of us. Thanks, Mrs.
Wyeth, those egg-whites are just
right now"
eyes, that's dreadful PAIN"
Todd said almost absently. "Teu
me, how much suffering can they
spare the patient? Do they let him
have morphia, or"
IT don't believe so" Nella said,
as if she were trying to recall.
Georgine went to wash her
hands, and stood drying them for
a long time, until the paper towel
was lump of wet pulp against her
palms. She thought, Horace said
| could draw my own conclusions.
Well, 1 don't like any of them. A
blessed relief - luminal - Gilbert
adored her-he was going deeper
and deeper into debt-he and Nella
had been so patient, so patient Tor
all those years, and he couldn't
have left an invalid sister to fend
for herself-if you can persuade
yourself-he didn't think OF 1t as
a crime
Nella looked about her, swooped
on forgotten spoon and put 1t to
soak with the rest of her cooking
utensils. "Shan't we go into the
sitting room? I'm through here
for the present-Oh, no, I'm sorry!
I have to take something over to
Rose Kinter, she knew she was
having twins, but, of course, you're
never really prepared with all the
things you need-two of every
thing"
They stood on the front porch
and watched her go down the
street, walking sedately under the
towering elms, her slight graceful
body dappled with their shade.
Todd said slowly, Lets stroll up
and down the walk for few min
utes. I'd like to make sure nobody
can hear u.s."
She glanced at him and agreed.
'Tell me again, will you, what
Horace said? :"
Lord, yes" he said when she
had finished. ''That puts the lid on.
Means: drug right at hand, may
be three or four tablets left over
from the sedative his sister had
taken, and the suggestion of
painless elimination already in his
mind. Motive: love and gain,
mixed. Opportunity: any one OF
,hree times, the visit in the morn
ng-interesting suggestion about
he candy-or the two in the after
loon."
1.-TWO, Todd?"
ibid you forget Virdette's story
about the door that opened and
;hut, and Susie's report of the Wis
tor who came lille after two?"
eyes, butt knew what you
we're thinking, about someone's
oming along the back lane, I'M
cen, and up the enclosed stairs;
tut 1 thought that would spoil the
ase against Gilbert, somehow"
THAT" said Todd remotely,
ould have been Gilbert, too. He
night have made the second visit
n hour or so later to see if she'd i
een-afected by the drug as yet. i
ii admit it's not likely, but then
his poor guy seems to have be-
aved oddly all along. If that
vas someone else, Gilbert may :
ave done the dragging when he
rent in at three o'clock. 1t 7
eedn't have taken the old lady :
cry long to go under"
Todd, don't like it. wish you
ad never made that promise to
'ella!" They were in front of the 5
illsit house at the moment. She 1
lanced up at it's monstrous IA
ade, and WINGED as if in physical U
ain. II keep seeing him." she ad- o
ed piteously, "tall and homely, b
nd dressed up in a Hollywood Ii
3orts outfit that didn't suit him. S
see him paying those patient e
1tyvisitS tn an old ladv. and rum v