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

one Dut II she, that girl, had been
crouched down behind the wall with
just little of her hair showing-I
couldn't be sure"
Poole's lips thinned to a straight
line. "It begins to look as if this
accident wasn't so accidental after
ALL" There was a certain satisfac-
ton in his tone.
What are you talking about?"
Edward IN nded sharply.
whats all this about Dorinda see
ing yellow? It's the first I've heard
Of it." His face was crumpled by
some inner agitation. 'Mr. Poole,
my niece is nervous, imaginative
girl. l hope you'll not let anything
she may have fancied she saw, at
a time when she certainly must
have been in a more or less hysteri-
cal state, influence you"
Poole funbled with his cigarette
papers. He glanced at Edward OBJ
liquely from under dust-colored
brows. HIN, your niece may be
imaginative-but there's certainly a
few things about this affair that
can't be laid to imagination. She
didn't imagine the girl at The Sill
yer Slipper. She didn't imagine the
girl who turned in at your gate yes
terday."
Edward moistened his dry lips
with the tip of his tongue. Surely,
Sheriff, you can't pay attention to
such trifles. know nothing about
the girl at the roadhouse. But as to
such person coming in here
after all, your delivery boy didn't
actually see her enter the gate. And
if he did see anyone, it was prob
! ably Dorinda herself. Possibly she
has forgotten"
Poole's lips quirked. ''Cleve
Adams must have forgotten as well,
then. He seems quite certain she
was with him all afternoon" His
voice changed suddenly. "You
seem very anxious, Mr.. Thorndyke,
that this affair should be consid-
cred an accident. Surely, if some
one deliberately pushed that bould-
er over the bluff, you want US to
find out who it was"
Naturally" Edward agreed stiff
ly. He did not look at Poole. But
it seems absurd to believe anyone
would want to kill that poor girl"
Perhaps no one did" Poole's
tone was enigmatic. He looked
down at the watch strapped about
his wrist. That's all for now. But
I'm depending on you folks to in
form me if you think of anything /
should know"
II think you can depend upon us
to do that. Although I'm sure there
is nothing" Poole closed the door
upon Edwards words.
Fay's blue eyes had darkened.
'I'm beginning to think things are
rather strange around here my
SELF" she observed obviously.
'Nonsense!" Edward barked. He
looked at Dorinda, his eyes hard
with suppressed anger. He opened
his lips as if to speak, then turned
and strobe back into the living
room without a word. .
Carol started up the stair. Come
on up" she whispered to Dorinda
as she passed her, and, with a
glance at Fay who stood looking
after Edward, the girl followed the
nurse up the steps.
II want to know more about
this" Carol said as they came into
the upper hall. If you'll wait for
me in your room until l change,
I'll be with you"
In ten minutes Carol knocked
! softly and came in, wearing a red
andwhite printed house coat, red
ribbon holding back the dark curls
from her face.
So Dorinda told her. 1t seemed
she almost knew the story by heart
now she had told it so often. When
she had finished, Carol sat silent
for few minutes, her dark face
thoughtful. Then she rose and paced
up and down the room, putting
furiously at her cigarette.
1T doesn't seem as if it could be
anything except as accident" she
commented, returning to her chair.
But don't like it. suppose I'll
have to stay day or two long
er - She shivered. But let's
look out for accidents"
She did not see Carol again. Lana
had already departed in her car.
Edward and Fay she met only at
dinner, where Edward maintained
an unbroken silence, and Fay, too,
ignored her. Harriet was quiet as
well, seemingly absorbed in some
deep study of her own.
Fay did speak to Dorinda though
as the girl excused herself from
the table and was about to leave
the dining room.
81 didn't know you locked your
door at night, Dorinda. I can un-
derstand you were upset after what