Evidence of Things Seen by Elizabeth Daly Page B

go if not to the cottage? I doubt if there’s anything we could stand in Avebury, and even that’s too far for me. That brings me to the next, and a much more important reason for a return; I want to be on the spot. In the next few days I shall have to see a lot of people and come and go at my own hours. At the cottage I shall not only be free, but halfway between Avebury and Stratfield; or at least at a strategic point between them.”
    â€œStratfield? I simply can’t believe,” said Clara, distressed, “that Gilbert Craye knows anything about it!”
    â€œHe knows something about Miss Radford that he doesn’t want other people to know. What was that you said he asked you, by the way, about Schenck being in the F.B.I.?”
    â€œHe just asked. I said you and Mr. Schenck didn’t talk about your war work.”
    â€œI didn’t know that he had ever met Schenck, or heard of him. Well, then; we come to the last reason that I can think of for settling down in the cottage, in spite of all you’ve been through in it; and I won’t try to tell you what a sport I think you are; you know.”
    â€œIt will be all right there with you.”
    â€œI’ve telegraphed to Dick Heron that I’m on the job, and I shall now write him a letter. I shall tell him that if he and Sally want to call the summer off, we’re agreeable and shan’t blame them; but that I’m going to try to clear things up, and that I hope we’ll get our money’s worth after all. I don’t know whether I could get out of the lease, but from what you tell me of the Grobys I think I probably couldn’t without a lawsuit.”
    â€œI wondered whether Dick and Sally would want to come now.”
    â€œWell, they weren’t here when the thing happened; I bet if we stick it out they will. Are you sure, Clara, that you’re willing to do this for me?” Again he looked at her closely; again she returned the look without wavering.
    â€œIt’ll be all right with you.”
    â€œThink what a strong-minded female the sheriff, and the state’s attorney, and the state police will make you out to be!” He gave her an odd smile.
    â€œThey’ll all be very much surprised. I don’t believe any of them would much like to live there themselves, now.”
    â€œWell show them what we’re made of. And now,” he said, getting up and lifting her to her feet, “let’s go down and look at the place.”
    They went down the Ladder; Gamadge admired every yard of the trail, and said that this kind of thing was what he had been looking forward to. Clara, watching his face, could only hope that he would succeed in enjoying himself.

CHAPTER EIGHT
Nobody Can Believe It
    A T HIS FIRST view of the little yellow house half hidden by its trees, Gamadge stopped with a hand on Clara’s arm. He stood absorbing the scene and tapping his stick gently against his leg; the monotone of the waterfall was in his ears, a chirping of birds, a faint rustle of leaves. Wood-smells and field-smells came to him on a cool breeze. The bend in the road cut off all sight of other human habitations.
    â€œDo you like it?” asked Clara.
    â€œWho wouldn’t like it?”
    They went on down to the beginning of the path. A state trooper got up from the porch settee and advanced upon them.
    â€œPremises closed,” he said. “Public not allowed.”
    â€œWe’re not public,” said Gamadge. “We live here.”
    The trooper looked at him.
    â€œAnd we have property here,” continued Gamadge. “No doubt it’s been protected, although I see that the yard hasn’t been protected from what must have been a convention of gum chewers. We want to check up on our stuff.”
    The trooper asked: “You Mr. and Mrs. Gamadge?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œStaying up at Hunters?”
    â€œFor the moment. We hope to move back in