The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-01-26


one boulder in the whole wall
either by time and weather or by
some person who wanted it loose
for his own purposes. It's too much
to suppose the boulder happened to
be loose and tramp or some homi-
cidal nut happened to come along.
It could have been an accident. I
don't believe it was a tramp. You
never saw anyone fooling around
that wall, did you, Carrier"
Her answer was slow in coming.
mo, I never saw anyone"
He looked at her keenly. 'Tt
doesn't sound right, Carrie, the way
you said that. You didn't see any
one. Did you see anything or hear
anything?"
well, it wasn't much" Carrie
admitted reluctantly. "Only one
night last week-Friday, it was, the
day Mrs. Thorndyke died. wasn't
sleeping so well and l got up and
thought I'd fix me some hot milk.
/ turned on the light and went to
the window to pull my shade-my
rooms at the back of the house
and I thought I saw a little light
down somewhere along the top Of
the bank. It went out while I was
looking"
IA little light" Poole said the
words over thoughtfully. What sort
Of light? Like lantern, a flash
light?"
1T could'a been a flashlight,"
Carrie said. She sighed YEARLY. II
sort of got to thinking about it and
next night I got up three or four
times and looked. And I saw it
again. I didn't like the idea of some
, one prowling around and I put on
my bathrobe and went and woke
Mr.. Greer. He went down there but
he didn't find anybody. didn't see
the light any more"
But you looked for it?"
well, yes, a couple of times.
Greer spoke to Mr.. Edward about
it but he said it was probably only
some couple getting together down
on the cutting across our
! land maybe. That front gates never
locked"
Poole stood up. There's nothing
more I can do around here tonight
except I'll have word or two with
Greer before 60. I'll be around
in the morning to see the other
members of the family. Maybe you
folks will think of something else
by that time, too"
Harriet went as far as the door
of the living room with the two
men. 1T was nice to see you again
after all this time" She added
quickly, "Only, of course, it's too
bad it had to be a death that
brought you here. Do you realize
that this is the first time we've
spoken to each other since I've
been back at Thorndyke House? It
brings back old times. There's been
lots Of changes since I lea Trent
VILE"
Poole looked at her gravely.
eyes, there's been lots of changes
in the past twenty-five years." he
agreed. He inclined his head a
fraction of an inch, made motion
as if to place his big Stetson back
on his grizzled hair, decided not to,
and turned toward the kitchen.
Carrie pushed open the door from
the dining room with one elbow.
She carried a tray with a silver
coffee pot, cups, sugar and cream.
She set it down on the coffee table
in front of Dorinda.
She did not go away at once but
fingered, fists pushing down in her
apron pockets. II don't know what
Mr.. Edward will say" she quav-
cred, catching Dorinda's glance.
He won't like it, me talking so
much"
She hesitated, then asked little
shyly, Were you and Mr.. Adams
right there when Miss Delahay got
killed."
I'VE weren't with her. We'd gone
around the end of the cove. / was
just coming back when-it hap
pened."
"She was all alone-sittin' on that
rock where you 60 every day?"
Dorinda looked at her curiously.
Eyes. Carrie. Why?"
Miss Dorinda, when / went down
to the sand this afternoon, saw
Miss Anne there with her back to
me, wearln' that suit / knew be-
longed to you. Just for a minute
thought it was you. Suppose some
one did push that boulder-who-
ever did it mightn't of known it
was her down on the rock. They
might have thought it was you'll"
She looked up at Cleve. His face,
white and strained, was touched
for the first time with doubt. ITS
too fantastic" he said harshly. 81
don't believe it. Things like that
don't happen. Not here. Not to
people like u.s."