The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-02

Adams telephoned me ana asked
that / permit you to visit him and
his mother. How would you
like me to take you there tonight
instead of tomorrow" He glanced
down at his watch. 'It's really to-
morrow now. And in the morning
I'll see you and Wen have that talk
we've been anticipating for so long.
I can't say the things to you had
intended-it's too late for that, I'm
afraid. What happened tonight-and
last night-has changed my plans"
He sighed heavily.
'Well," Dorinda consented. She
couldn't feel any fear Of Edward.
Almost against her will she believed
him when he assured her he would
not let her come to harm.
The cock, who had retired to the
kitchen, came back as she slid off
her stool. Edward threw dollar
bill on the counter.
mo change" he said CURLY.
AS the man stretched out bony,
nicotine-stained fingers to pick up
the money, Dorinda, in flash of
|, recollection, remembered where
she had seen him. He was the man
who had passed her in McGregor's
store that day three weeks ago,
whose pale eyes had stared at her
curiously from his thin face with
its twisted look that in some way
suggested deformity.
Her eyes sought Carol. DO you
think it is all right for US to go
with Uncle Edward?" she asked
diffidently.
The nurse shrugged. "Oh, yes, I
should think So" she said toneless-
ly. go ahead, Dorinda. I'll have to
take the roadster back"
But Carol" Dorinda began to
protest. Though she was not afraid
of Edward, it had been no part of
her plan to go back alone with
him.
But the other girl pushed past
her without needing her protest and
went out alone into the night.
She hesitated, standing there be-
side the stool she had just vacated
in the narrow restaurant. She was
fool, common sense told her. to
trust Edward. She didn't trust him.
But she didn't believe he would
harm her. He liked her. She knew
that. Perhaps his feeling for her
was a little stronger than liking.
She hadn't lived in the same house
with him for over five months with
out discovering his susceptibility
where pretty girl was concerned.
Edward hardly spoke during the
hour they were together. Once,
when they had turned from the side
road into the boulevard again, he
said. you should have come tC
me, Dorinda,. instead of running
away. l would have protected you
from whatever it was you feared
If you'd gone-well, there would be
repercussions. Poole might ever
have issued a warrant for your ar
rest.
Il haven't been sleeping vel
lately. And tonight, for once, Tn
glad. If hadn't been lying awake
/ wouldn't have heard you CO."
She didn't answer for a moment
If he hadn't heard her, she ano
Carol would have been well on theil
way to Los Angeles by this time
Would Poole really have had hel
arrested?
''Mr. Poole hasn't been to the
| house for a couple of days." she
said in small voice 81 thought
Carol thought, too-they'd dropped
| the case"
She saw Edward shake his heac
without speaking.
Once her breath caught in hel
throat She had not realized how
close they were to Thorndyks
House until the dark old building
doomed in front of them, black
against the moonlit sky.
''You promised" she began
her voice shrill with alarm, ther
stopped as the car glided swiftly
! past the iron gates without even &
pause. She had forgotten that il
order to reach their destination
they must pass the house she had
few hours ago, hoped never t.
see again.