there somewhere and set up my own law firm.”
“Well, a man should follow his dream, Adam. That’s what I’m doing by becoming a deputy U.S. marshal. So tell me more.”
“I’ve been in contact with the chairman of North Platte’s town council. He tells me the town is on the grow but has no law office. The people have to go all the way to Grand Island—one hundred and twenty miles away—to get legal help. That’s where I’m going to open my own law firm.”
“Sounds like quite the adventure. I hope you and Philipa will be very happy in North Platte.”
“Thank you.”
“Guess we won’t be seeing each other anymore, Adam, but I’ll make it a point to see you once more before I leave for Washington.”
The sun was rising when Joseph Mason stepped onto the front porch of his mansion and picked up the morning paper. He waved to a neighbor a few yards down and turned to go inside.
Upstairs in the master bedroom, Nancy Mason was seated in front of the mirror at her dressing table, applying the last touches of rouge to her cheeks. The powder and rouge didn’t completely hide the pallor of her skin, but it did help some. She was feeling better than she had the last couple of days and was looking forward to her busy day. The Masons were not only on the board of directors at the Philadelphia orphanage, but Nancy worked one day a week as a volunteer. That was Nancy’s greatest joy—the highlight of her week. She only wished her health would allow her to put in more time there.
“Ready, Mother?” Rachel asked from the open bedroom door.
Nancy laid down the rouge brush and smiled at her daughter’s reflection in the mirror. “I’m ready.”
They locked arms and headed down the wide hallway toward the winding staircase.
Joseph entered the kitchen, newspaper in hand and drew a deep breath. “Ahh … Millie,” he said to the middle-aged cook, “it sure smells good!”
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells, Mr. Mason.”
“Well, if it doesn’t, it’ll be the first time!”
“Good morning, Daddy, Millie!” Rachel said as mother and daughter entered the kitchen arm in arm.
Millie returned the greeting over her shoulder as she stood at the stove, transferring scrambled eggs from a skillet into a bowl.
Joseph laid the morning’s edition of the
Enquirer
on the table at his usual place and said, “My, don’t my girls look gorgeous this morning! You could almost pass for sisters.”
Mother and daughter smiled at each other as the family sat downat the table and Millie began filling their plates.
“Honey, you’re not eating this good food with much enthusiasm,” Joseph said after a few minutes. “Are you having a bad day?”
“Mama, maybe you’d better not go to the orphanage today,” Rachel said.
“Oh, I’m fine. The last couple of days have been a little rough, but I’m better today. My appetite isn’t back yet, but I’ll be able to go to the orphanage.”
Joseph looked at her questioningly, but Nancy smiled at him and said, “Really, honey. I’m fine.”
He gave her a tentative smile, then filled his mouth with scrambled eggs and unfolded the newspaper. The headline caught his attention:
CONDEMNED MAN CONFESSES MURDER
OF OFFICER LAWRENCE SHELDON
BEFORE GOING TO GALLOWS!
“Well, look at this!” he said, holding up the paper so his wife and daughter could see the bold print.
“Well, isn’t that something,” Rachel said. “Who was it, Daddy?”
“I don’t know. Let me see here …”
“I’m so glad to hear this,” Nancy said. “So many people around here have spoken their doubts about Officer Coleman’s innocence, in spite of the jury’s verdict. I’ve never felt he did it.”
“I have to admit I had my doubts, Mama,” Rachel said. “It was—”
“You remember that man who killed the two women in the Rittenhouse Square district back in July?”
“Is he the one?” Rachel asked.
“Sure is. Jake Wilson. They executed him yesterday morning at the
“Well, a man should follow his dream, Adam. That’s what I’m doing by becoming a deputy U.S. marshal. So tell me more.”
“I’ve been in contact with the chairman of North Platte’s town council. He tells me the town is on the grow but has no law office. The people have to go all the way to Grand Island—one hundred and twenty miles away—to get legal help. That’s where I’m going to open my own law firm.”
“Sounds like quite the adventure. I hope you and Philipa will be very happy in North Platte.”
“Thank you.”
“Guess we won’t be seeing each other anymore, Adam, but I’ll make it a point to see you once more before I leave for Washington.”
The sun was rising when Joseph Mason stepped onto the front porch of his mansion and picked up the morning paper. He waved to a neighbor a few yards down and turned to go inside.
Upstairs in the master bedroom, Nancy Mason was seated in front of the mirror at her dressing table, applying the last touches of rouge to her cheeks. The powder and rouge didn’t completely hide the pallor of her skin, but it did help some. She was feeling better than she had the last couple of days and was looking forward to her busy day. The Masons were not only on the board of directors at the Philadelphia orphanage, but Nancy worked one day a week as a volunteer. That was Nancy’s greatest joy—the highlight of her week. She only wished her health would allow her to put in more time there.
“Ready, Mother?” Rachel asked from the open bedroom door.
Nancy laid down the rouge brush and smiled at her daughter’s reflection in the mirror. “I’m ready.”
They locked arms and headed down the wide hallway toward the winding staircase.
Joseph entered the kitchen, newspaper in hand and drew a deep breath. “Ahh … Millie,” he said to the middle-aged cook, “it sure smells good!”
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells, Mr. Mason.”
“Well, if it doesn’t, it’ll be the first time!”
“Good morning, Daddy, Millie!” Rachel said as mother and daughter entered the kitchen arm in arm.
Millie returned the greeting over her shoulder as she stood at the stove, transferring scrambled eggs from a skillet into a bowl.
Joseph laid the morning’s edition of the
Enquirer
on the table at his usual place and said, “My, don’t my girls look gorgeous this morning! You could almost pass for sisters.”
Mother and daughter smiled at each other as the family sat downat the table and Millie began filling their plates.
“Honey, you’re not eating this good food with much enthusiasm,” Joseph said after a few minutes. “Are you having a bad day?”
“Mama, maybe you’d better not go to the orphanage today,” Rachel said.
“Oh, I’m fine. The last couple of days have been a little rough, but I’m better today. My appetite isn’t back yet, but I’ll be able to go to the orphanage.”
Joseph looked at her questioningly, but Nancy smiled at him and said, “Really, honey. I’m fine.”
He gave her a tentative smile, then filled his mouth with scrambled eggs and unfolded the newspaper. The headline caught his attention:
CONDEMNED MAN CONFESSES MURDER
OF OFFICER LAWRENCE SHELDON
BEFORE GOING TO GALLOWS!
“Well, look at this!” he said, holding up the paper so his wife and daughter could see the bold print.
“Well, isn’t that something,” Rachel said. “Who was it, Daddy?”
“I don’t know. Let me see here …”
“I’m so glad to hear this,” Nancy said. “So many people around here have spoken their doubts about Officer Coleman’s innocence, in spite of the jury’s verdict. I’ve never felt he did it.”
“I have to admit I had my doubts, Mama,” Rachel said. “It was—”
“You remember that man who killed the two women in the Rittenhouse Square district back in July?”
“Is he the one?” Rachel asked.
“Sure is. Jake Wilson. They executed him yesterday morning at the
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