Dotty’s Suitcase by Constance C. Greene Read Free Book Online Page A

special, something she’d never seen before. Or would ever again.

CHAPTER 9
    Whistling “The Rose of Tralee,” Dotty set off in the direction the black car had taken. Some days she could whistle pretty good. This wasn’t one of them. The sound that came from between her pursed lips was a dismal sighing sound that might’ve been a lot of things, none of them “The Rose of Tralee.”
    When she turned to look behind her, Jud was standing where she’d left him, arms folded across his chest, eyes boring little holes in her head.
    She had known it wouldn’t work. “Oh, all right,” she said. “Come on. But it’s a waste of time.”
    â€œThe robbers are still at large,” Jud said, catching up. “The radio said they were. That means they’re still out there”—his arm swept a large arc—“fixing to shoot somebody. The man said they had cruel eyes, mean like. Eyes like to cut you in two.” He watched her face.
    Dotty thumped her fists on her hips.
    â€œYou ever hear of Sally Rand?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œShe dances bare at the World’s Fair.” If that didn’t take Jud’s mind off the robbers, nothing would.
    â€œBare?” he whispered.
    â€œThat’s the truth. Nothing between her and you except a big fan made of feathers. A gigantic fan made of feathers that’d float away if a big wind struck ’em.”
    She resumed her walking. He was behind her, quiet, thinking. Lord knows she’d given him something to think about.
    They trudged along the shoulder of the road, careful to stay off the pavement. Presently the sound of a car, going even faster than the first one, reached them. They stood back until it passed. That car was going hell-bent for election, two men in front, two in back, all staring straight ahead grimly.
    That car stirred up so much wind it made Dotty’s galoshes flap against her legs.
    â€œYou see who that was?” Jud asked, his eyes huge. He made a pass at his mouth with his thumb. In times of stress Jud’s thumb was a comfort to him.
    Dotty glared at him. “Don’t start that business now,” she said. “I don’t have time for a partner that sucks his thumb. No time at all.”
    Stunned by her use of the word “partner,” Jud thrust his hands into his pockets to avoid temptation and stomped behind her.
    â€œIt’s got to be about here,” Dotty muttered. She tramped in a small circle, head down, studying the ground, widening the circle as she went, beating down the dead gray grass, the mass of weeds.
    â€œWhat’re we looking for?” Jud asked, doing everything she did.
    â€œIf I knew that, it’d be easy, wouldn’t it?”
    â€œThat was the sheriff’s car,” Jud said. “Him and his deputies were chasing somebody, I bet.”
    â€œOh, they were probably just out for a ride,” Dotty said airily.
    â€œYou know what? You got on your lying face. You know that was the sheriff good as me, and he wasn’t out for any old ride. He was chasing somebody, and I bet you dollars to doughnuts he was after them robbers in that big black car.” Jud’s mouth clamped down. He was tired out, unaccustomed to making such a long speech.
    â€œYou keep your nose down and keep looking, otherwise go on home.” Dotty made such a fierce face at him he cowered behind a pine tree for a minute.
    Dotty retraced her steps, around and around, back and forth, and found nothing. She worked her way to the spot in the highway where the road curved. Whatever they’d tossed out they’d come back for. She was certain of that. Whatever it was, they didn’t want anyone to find them carrying it.
    â€œSuppose they come back?” Jud was so close to her she jumped. “Suppose they come back looking for what it was they threw out of the car? Suppose they find us here?” His voice faltered and died.
    Dotty