Hildegarde Withers Makes the Scene by Stuart Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

said, “I was afraid you might be out carousing.”
    “No such luck, Hildy. I’ve just had my Geritol and was thinking about tottering to bed. What’s up?”
    “I merely wish to report that I’ve picked up the trail of your wandering flower child.”
    “Good for you, Hildy. I knew an expert snoop like you could run her down.”
    “She hasn’t exactly been run down. She’s in San Francisco. At least she said she was going to San Francisco when she left here.”
    “How long ago?”
    “About ten days.”
    “Did she say why she was going?”
    “No. My informant said that she was apparently excited about something big. A happening out of the world was the way he expressed it, as I recall.”
    “Did she say where in San Francisco, exactly?”
    “She mentioned stopping with a girl named Carol Hadley. A student at the University of San Francisco. Where she’s gone from there, if anywhere, remains to be determined.”
    “Well, then, that’s that. You’ve done all you can do, Hildy. I’ll get in touch with Gregory and put it up to him.”
    “Nonsense, Oscar. If you think you’re going to pull me off this case, you’re badly mistaken.”
    “You’re planning to go to San Francisco?”
    “Certainly. I’ll leave tomorrow.”
    “That’s gallantry above and beyond the call of duty, Hildy. You’d better stay home and take care of your poodle and your African violets.”
    “Poor Talley has been neglected so long that a little longer won’t hurt him. He’ll be quite comfortable in a kennel, and a neighbor can watch over the violets.” Miss Withers was silent for a moment before continuing. “I’ve been developing a feeling about this girl, Oscar.”
    “What sort of feeling?”
    “I don’t know. An uneasy feeling.”
    “Come off, Hildy. Don’t tell me you’re getting another one of your premonitions.”
    “Call it what you like, Oscar. I simply have a feeling that it’s urgent that someone find Lenore Gregory in a hurry.”
    It was Inspector Piper’s turn for a moment of silence, and when he broke it, his voice was larded with suspicion and worry. “See here, Hildy. You wouldn’t be holding something out on me, would you?”
    “Not at all, Oscar. I’ll be in touch with you again when I have further news to report.”
    “Good enough.” He sounded suddenly gruff. “And for God’s sake, old girl, try to stay out of trouble.”
    “I shall do that for my sake. Good-bye, Oscar.”
    “Good-bye, Hildy.”
    She hung up the phone and sat down at the table with Al. “And so,” she said, “to use the expression of that despicable creature in Venice, this is Endsville. Here’s where you get off.”
    Al got up and poured himself a glass of milk and sat down again. “That’s right,” he said. “Now that you’ve used me as long as you think you need me, throw me out! Don’t let me stick around when things begin to get good! Oh, no!”
    “Don’t be absurd. You’ve been a great help, and I’m grateful. There is simply no need for you to go all the way to San Francisco for something that is, after all, not your concern.”
    “Oh, I don’t know about that. It seems to me, when you come right down to it, that it’s as much my concern as yours. Besides, I’m getting a little tired of being a drop-out. Think of the money you could save on plane fare.”
    “Young man, are you suggesting that I ride all the way to San Francisco in the sidecar of that vehicle of yours?”
    “Why not? It would be a gas. After all, you’ve already ridden it farther right here in the county. We could go up the coast and see Big Sur on the way.”
    Miss Withers gazed at him reflectively. She was, indeed, becoming quite fond of this boy. “It might be a pleasant ride, at that,” she said.

5.
    S AN FRANCISCO IS AN enigma. In little more than a century, a willful child among the cities of the world, it has somehow managed to become a legend and create a myth. At once raffish and sedate, vibrant and mellow, it clings