Death on the Family Tree by Patricia Sprinkle Read Free Book Online Page B

brought out a green box from near the back. “Let’s see what we can find.”
    “I really appreciate this.” Katharine was grateful, but felt a bit overwhelmed by his determined kindness.
    “It’s no trouble a-tall,” he assured her. “I have nothing pressing at the moment.” He put the film in a machine and fast-forwarded to E165. “Here we are. Everanes. There’s only one family, and they lived in Fulton County, like you thought.” He pointed to the screen and read aloud. “Head of household, Clifford Charles Everanes. Other persons living in the house were Mildred Faire Everanes, wife, Walter Charles, son—well, looky here! Carter Simpson, son, and Emily Lucille, daughter. That help you any?”
    Katharine stared at the gray screen, trying to absorb the information. Aunt Lucy and Uncle Walter had a brother she had never heard of? She was positive that not once in all her growing up years had she heard Walter and Lucy mention another brother.
    “This what you wanted to know?” the man demanded.
    “Oh, yes,” she told him. “I’m surprised that he was a brother, that’s all. I knew Walter and Lucy, but I never heard of Carter.”
    He gave a raspy laugh. “Mighta been the black sheep of the family. You wanta know more about him?” She nodded. He pointed to some words and numbers at the upper right of the screen. “Best place to start is the census. These numbers give us the volume of the census, the enumeration district, and the abode number.” Again she was surprised with how easily he rolled off words like “enumeration” and “abode.” She quickly jotted down the numbers he indicated, including the right frame of the microfilm, then followed him back to the drawers containing microfilms of the actual census records. He had already pulled out another green box.
    “I can take it from here,” she assured him. “Thanks so much.”
    “I’ll stick around in case you get in any trouble.” As Katharine headed back to the microfilm, he was so close behind that he trod on her heel.
    She turned. “I’d really rather do this alone. I do appreciate your help, though.”
    He held up both hands and backed off. “Sorry, ma’am. No offence intended. You need any more help, you let me know.” He swaggered back to the main library and she saw him pick up a periodical from a table and settle in as if to read. When she glanced that way in a few seconds, though, he was looking her way. He gave a grin and a wave. She waved back, and returned to the screen.
    She inserted the film and started looking for the right frame. Impatient, she punched the fast-forward button and whizzed past the one she sought.
    “Drat!” She spoke sharply before she remembered she was not alone. Her cheeks grew hot and she darted a glance at the woman on the other machine. What must she be thinking?
    At the same moment she looked Katharine’s way. “Why, Katharine Murray! You doing family research, too?”
    Katharine’s face broke into a smile. “Dr. Flo! I didn’t recognize you.”
    A slim brown hand came up to pat the short shining curls. “It’s my new look. I decided it was time to cut off that bun and get myself a new style and some bright, fun clothes.”
    For thirty years, until she’d retired a few years before, Dr. Florence Gadney had taught business at Spelman College. She always gave the impression that she meant business, too. Short and slender with an elegant carriage, she wore chic tailored suits, silk blouses, and a chignon that made her look as if she’d just stepped off a plane from Paris. In an evening gown, she resembled an Ethiopian queen, a fit consort for the handsome Maurice Gadney, M.D., in his tux. They used to make a striking couple when they attended art, musical, or theatrical openings in Atlanta, where their names generally appeared in the program as patrons, sponsors, or angels of the event. They had no children, but were often quoted as saying that the various organizations they supported