The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-02-09


stopped in front Of the trunk. About
her the piled-up refuse Of the house
was gray with the fine dust which
day after day had sifted in and lain
undisturbed for the past year. Only
the top of this trunk was clean and
free from CRIME.
That meant nothing-only that
someone had added to whatever
store the trunk contained, old linen,
old garments, anything. She bent
and pulled at the lid. 1t did not
open. The trunk was locked.
But suddenly, surprisingly, as if
in response to her touch the trunk
had become sentient thing which
threatened her, she was enveloped
by fear. The trunk? Was it the
trunk which caused her terror? She
stumbled toward the stairs and
heard footsteps, made audible by
haste, on the treads below. Then
the soft closing of the door. Some
one had been there, someone who
had followed without sound and
watched.
But when she came down into the
upper hall once more, she saw only
emptiness. Every door was closed,
everything still behind them. As
she listened, the clack Of Fay's
typewriter came to her ears again.
She turned the key carefully in
the lock and went along the hall to
her room. Halfway there, Harriet's
latch clicked and she stepped out
into Dorinda's path. The older
woman wore a dark blue coat and
skirt and blue felt hat. A dotted
veil swung in front of her colorless
face.
"Are you going out, Aunt Har-
riet?" Dorinda asked in some sur
prise.
Eyes, I'm going out" Harriet in
formed her. Her pale lips folded
together in a secretive line. She
snapped and unsnapped the clasp
of her black glove. Then she added
jerkily. There's a matter I have
to see to. It's, well, maybe it's i'm
portant.
Downstairs, Greer had Just
opened the front door. Dorinda, on
the stairway, could see Cleve as
he stood in the white portico and
ran to meet him. He took both her
hands in his and scrutinized her
face carefully.
What is it, Dorinda?" he asked
anxiously. You're white as
ghost. Nothing-nothing more-has
happened, has it?"
mo, except Randy" She
stopped. caught her breath sharp
ly, before she could 60 on. Randy
is lost. You didn't find him any,
where, did you, Clever"
Randy? No. Did he run away"
She took Cleve out to the canvas
covered lawn swing under the
trees. There she told him of
Randy's disappearance. and, after
little hesitation, of the terror she
had felt In the attic.
Maybe someone here didn't like
dogs" Cleve suggested. Didn't
like your having him and seized an
opportunity to get rid Of him. Had
you thought of that?"
She nodded. But l didn't think
anyone hated him that much"
cts hard to think of any other
reason for his disappearance. I'm
less someone accidentally let him
out and doesn't want to admit it
since he seems to be lost. He may
show up yet, honey"
Maybe" But her voice was
without conviction.
You need to get away from
here, Dorinda. Tell you what
let's get the car and beat it, now.
before lunch. Well drive around
and get dinner somewhere and not
come back till late this evening
How's that?"
"Oh, I'd like that!" Dorinda's
eyes shone Maybe things will
seem different if l get away from
the house for awhile"
And perhaps who knows?-
your pup will be here when you
get back"
This was what she needed, Do
rinda decided, as they drove along
country roads, leaving Thorndyke
House farther and farther behind
them.
I'VE said we'd go NORTH" Cleve
said. Let's be contrary-let's go
south"
Anywhere, don't care" Do
rinda put out her hand to touch his
comforting nearness as he turned
the car.
They bought hamburgers and
coffee at roadside stand, food
made ambrosia by spring and the
appetite Of youth. At twilight they
came into a small town near Los
Angeles. A neon restaurant sign on
a white building with a glassed-in
front attracted them. Inside they
found small tables with snowy
linen and tall red candles. A wait
ress in red-checked Bingham and