Read Online Evidence of Things Seen by Elizabeth Daly - Free Book Online Page A

woman in the sunbonnet. She came around the house and frightened the horse.”
    â€œWoman in a sunbonnet?” Hunter looked at her, frowning.
    â€œYou know, the one I told you about on Thursday.”
    â€œThe one who’s been prowling around back of the cottage?”
    â€œYes. I think her apron had been flapping. I only saw her for a second, but I think she backed off around the corner of the cottage. I was running to get Miss Radford away from the horse’s heels.”
    â€œWell, upon my word, this is a little too much! I’ll certainly speak to the state police tomorrow. This can’t go on—it’s more than an annoyance, it’s positively a menace. I suppose you didn’t have a chance afterwards to go after her? You or Maggie?”
    â€œMaggie didn’t see her at all, this time. I was rather worried later; I was afraid she might still be on the premises somewhere.” Clara glanced at the attic door. Hunter, seeing the look, rose.
    â€œI’ll soon settle that!”
    â€œOh—thank you.”
    He went up into the attic, came back again, and made a search of the cottage, indoors and out. He even went to the old barn where Clara kept the car. When he came back he shook his head. “Not anywhere.”
    â€œI almost think she isn’t real.”
    â€œIsn’t real?”
    No, thought Clara, I can’t say it; I simply can’t. But she went on: “There’s something so queer about her.”
    â€œWe’ll soon find out whether she’s real or not! She may be a half-wit, camping in the woods; perhaps I’d better call up the barracks at Stratfield tonight.”
    â€œOh, no; you’re here.”
    â€œI certainly am, and now Knapp’s here—that’s his car.”
    The doctor, a short, stoutish man of sixty with a clipped gray beard, began proceedings by giving Miss Radford a shot of morphia. Forty minutes later her broken ankle was set, and she was peacefully asleep with Maggie watching at her side. Knapp, grateful to find a Lucullan feast awaiting him in the upstairs sitting room, sat down at the bridge table with the Hunters and Clara.
    â€œYou folks are mighty kind and pleasant about this,” he said, “and as far as Alvira Radford’s concerned there isn’t a thing to worry about. She’s had a shock, but she’s a strong, tough woman. I hate to send you in for that codeine and luminal, Hunter, but if she comes out of the morphia—I don’t think she will—she’ll need it before morning. Trouble is, somebody ought to sit up with her.”
    â€œWe ought to be able to manage that among the four of us,” said Hunter.
    â€œMighty nice of you. I could get Mrs. Simms up, perhaps.”
    â€œLet Mrs. Simms have her sleep; she probably needs it a good deal more than we do.”
    Clara said: “She mustn’t be left alone a minute—not a minute. I dragged her in here; she didn’t want to come.”
    Knapp paused with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. Then he said: “She won’t know anything about it till morning.”
    â€œOughtn’t we to move her into the other downstairs bedroom, Dr. Knapp? That one’s so near the kitchen and bathroom; she may hear noises.”
    â€œShe won’t hear a thing, and she can’t be moved tonight.” Knapp again looked at her. Then he said: “I’ll have to get hold of that Sam of hers. He’ll have to tie up those dogs, if the stretcher’s to get into the house tomorrow, and I’m not so anxious to be chewed up myself. I’ll have to get hold of somebody to look after her; she’d rather be at home, and the hospital’s choke-full anyway. Old fellows like me are getting run off our legs. How did the accident happen, Mrs. Gamadge? Did she try to turn short? There’s no cut-under to those old buggies.”
    â€œThe horse was frightened at something, and tipped her