The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-16
FORTY-SIX

Gerda rolled over to the side
OF the bed and sat up.
Her head felt a little better now,
but she was still glad that she
hadn't gone with the others on
the picnic. It was peaceful and
almost comforting to be alone in
the house for a bit.
Elsie, OF course, had been verv
kind-very kind-especially at
first. To begin with, Gerda had
been urged to stay in bed for
breakfast, trays had been brought
up to her. Everybody urged her to
sit in the most comfortable arm
chair, to put her feet up, not to
do anything at all strenuous.
They were all so sorry for her
about John. She had stayed, cow
ering gratefully in that protec-
tive dim haze. She hadn't wanted
to think, o. to. feel, or to remem-
Der.
But now, every day, she felt il
coming nearer-she'd have to
start living again, to decide what
to do, where to live. Already Elsie
was showing a shade of impa-
tience in her manner. "Oh, Ger
da don't be so slow!"
It was all the same as it had
been-long ago, before John came
and took her away. They all
thought her slow and stupid.
There was nobody to say, as JOHN
had said, 'I'll look after YOU"
Her head ached and Gerda
thought, I'll make myself some
tea.
She went down to the kitchen
and put the kettle on. It was near.
ly boiling when she heard a ring
at the front door.
The maids had been given the
day out. Gerda went to the door
and opened it. She was astonishec
to see H%enrietta's rakish-lookine
car drawn up to the curb and
Henrietta herself standing On the
doorstep.
"Why, Henrietta!" she exclaim
ed. She fell back a step or two
Come in. I'm afraid my sister
and the children are out but
Henrietta cut her short.
Good. I'm glad. I wanted tt
get you alone. Listen, Gerda, wha
did you do with the holster?"
Gerda stopped. Her eyes looked
suddenly vacant and uncompre
hening. She said, "Holster?'
Then she opened a door on TIT
right of the hall.
you'd better come in here I n
afraid it's rather dusty. You see
we haven't had much time thi!
morning"
Henrietta interrupted again ur
gently.
She said, Listen, Gerda, you W
got to tell me. Apart from the
holster everything's all fight-ab
solutely watertight. There's moth
ing to connect you with The bust
ness. 1 found the revolver where
you'd showed it into that thicke'
by the pool. I hid it in a place
where you couldn't possibly have
[put it-and there are fingerprint:
on it which they'll never identify
So there's only the holster; 1 mus
know what you did with that?'
She had no idea why she hat
this vital sense Of urgency. but i
was there. Her car had not beer
followed - she had made sure o.
that. She had started on the Lon
don road, had filled up at a ga
rage and had mentioned that she
was on her way to London. Then
a little farther on, she had swung
across country until she hae
reached a main road leading south
to the coast.
Gerda was still staring at her.
The trouble with Gerda, though
Henrietta, was that she was Sc
slow.
eff you've still got it, Gerda,
you must give it to me. I'll get
rid of it somehow. It's the only
possible thing, you see, that car
connect you now with Johns
death. Have you got it?"
There was a pause and then
Gerda slowly nodded her head.
Didn't you know it was mad
ness to keep it," Henrietta could
hardly conceal her impotence.
II forgot about it. 1t was up in
my room"
She added, "When the police
came up to Harley Street I cut it
in two and put it in the bag with
my leather work"
Henrietta siad, THAT was elev-
err of you"
Gerda said, I'm not quite so
stupid as everybody Thinks
She put her hand up to her
throat. She said, John - John"
Her voice broke.
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