Evidence of Things Seen by Elizabeth Daly Read Free Book Online

something to me,” admitted Clara.
    â€œHow does he dare?” wondered Fanny.
    â€œMy dear,” said her husband, “I’m sure that there was no witness to the conversation; there never is. Don’t waste horror on Groby; his type will always bootleg something or other, and think it commendable business enterprise.”
    â€œMrs. Groby is coming to call on me,” said Clara. Fanny moaned, and Hunter laughed. “Of course she’ll call,” he said. “She’s called on Fanny. She drove all the way up from Avebury once, a good ten miles, to solicit a contribution to her war fund.”
    â€œI wasn’t in,” said Fanny, “thank goodness.”
    â€œI was.” Hunter, lighting Clara’s cigarette and his own, smiled at the memory. “I thought her vain and strident, but oddly sensitive in her own way. I knew her history. The only Radford son, Alvira’s brother, was a traveling salesman, and he married a waitress somewhere in the West. Mrs. Groby was the sole result of the union.”
    â€œNow I understand her better,” said Clara. “I thought she was a funny kind of niece for Miss Radford to have.”
    â€œI understand that Alvira doesn’t see the joke; Colley says she doesn’t care for the Grobys at all.”
    â€œThey were calling on her this morning, though.”
    â€œOf course they were; Alvira inherited one hundred thousand dollars, if rumor can be believed.”
    â€œA hundred and six thousand,” said Clara, while the Hunters laughed. “Mrs. Simms and her hired man told us. Can she possibly be keeping it in the house? Can that be why she has the fence and the dogs?”
    The Hunters said nothing. Clara, after an irresolute look at their faces, went hastily on:
    â€œI know you know something about Miss Radford, and about that money, and about the sister’s death. I know there’s something queer about it. Mrs. Simms knows what it is, and Web Hawley knows, and I’m sure Mrs. Simms has told Maggie. I wish you’d tell me; I don’t mind a bit about the sister dying in the cottage, it can’t be that; there’s something more.”
    There was a pause, during which Fanny looked distressed and Hunter thoughtful. At last he said: “She’ll get it from somebody else, Fanny.”
    â€œOh, Phin, but it can’t be true; why repeat it?”
    â€œWell, it was through us that Dick Heron heard about the cottage.”
    â€œBecause he was inquiring about a place here for themselves and the Gamadges. It isn’t our fault. Clara, we never heard a word of it until after Dick had signed the lease, and it’s all nonsense, and we hoped you’d never hear of it either. Mrs. Hickson died of something that happened to her after she had intestinal flu, and Dr. Knapp, who’s perfectly reliable, signed the certificate. He wouldn’t have done that if there had been the slightest question. It’s all just country spite.”
    Clara put out her cigarette. “They’re saying that Miss Radford poisoned her sister for the money?”
    Hunter, after a troubled look at her, spoke gently: “The thing seemed to me too farcical a notion to bother Dick Heron with; if I had thought there was a grain of truth in it I should have written to him. As Fanny suggests, it was very trying for the neighbors—Alvira’s sudden acquisition of wealth; I don’t think the Radford sisters were too popular. I believe they were considered a trifle close-fisted, even in a community of traditional cheeseparers. But even if the thing were a fact, Clara, Alvira Radford wouldn’t poison you, you know. You’re a source of income. However, perhaps you’d better, after all, come up to us; Gamadge might prefer it.”
    Clara asked: “Is she afraid they’ll mob her, or something? Is that why she put up the fence and got the dogs?”
    â€œI’m not at all sure that