The others here may be keeping
him intoxicated, and hidden away for purposes of their own. However,
this need not change our plans. Will you go in to Sallie?"
"Yes; it will be a relief to be busy, to feel that I am accomplishing
something."
I stood upon the bench, from where I could look out above the weeds and
tangled bushes, and followed her course to the house. At top of the
steps she paused an instant to glance back, and then disappeared
within. I waited patiently, knowing that if she failed to discover the
housekeeper, she would give some signal. Meanwhile I watched the
weed-grown area about me carefully in search of any skulker observing
our movements. I could see little through the tangle, yet succeeded in
convincing myself that I was alone, and free to begin my explorations.
Yet I faced this work with less enthusiasm than I felt when first
proposing it. The knowledge that Philip Henley was alive; that any
discoveries I might make would benefit him even more than his wife, had
robbed me of my earlier interest in the outcome. Nothing I had heard
of the man was favorable to his character. I felt profoundly convinced
that whatever affection his wife might have once entertained for him
had long ago vanished through neglect and abuse.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154