Read Online Full dark,no stars by Stephen King - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephen King
Tags: sf_horror
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asked her what it was, and she said it wasnt her place to tell, but I could ask Shannon. So I did.
Henry looked at his feet. I told her to keep it to herself.
You arent going to hold it against her, are you? Sheriff Jones asked. I mean, when a big man like me with a star on his chest asks a little thing like her what she knows, its kind of hard for the little thing to keep mum, isnt it? She just about has to tell, doesnt she?
I dont know, Henry said, still looking down. Probably. He wasnt just acting unhappiness; he was unhappy. Even though it was going just the way we had hoped it would.
Shannon says your ma and your pop here had a big fight about selling those hundred acres, and when you came down on your poppas side, Missus James slapped you up pretty good.
Yes, Henry said colorlessly. Shed had too much to drink.
Sheriff Jones turned to me. Was she drunk or just tiddly?
Somewhere in between, I said. If shed been all the way to drunk, she would have slept all night instead of getting up and packing a grip and creeping away like a thief.
Thought shed come back once she sobered up, did you?
I did. Its over four miles out to the tarvy. I thought for sure shed come back. Someone must have come along and given her a ride before her head cleared. A trucker on the Lincoln-Omaha run would be my guess.
Yep, yep, thatd be mine, too. Youll hear from her when she contacts Mr. Lester, Im sure. If she means to stay out on her own, if shes got that in her head, shell need money to do it.
So he knew that, too.
His eyes sharpened. Did she have any money at all, Mr. James?
Well
Dont be shy. Confessions good for the soul. The Catholics have got hold of something there, dont they?
I kept a box in my dresser. There was 200 dollars put by in it, to help pay the pickers when they start next month.
And Mr. Cotterie, Henry reminded. To Sheriff Jones, he said: Mr. Cotterie has a corn harvester. A Harris Giant. Almost new. Its a pip.
Yep, yep, saw it in his dooryard. Big bastid, isnt it? Pardon my Polish. Money all gone outn that box, was it?
I smiled sourly-only it wasnt really me making that smile; the Conniving Man had been in charge ever since Sheriff Jones pulled up by the chopping block. She left twenty. Very generous of her. But twentys all Harlan Cotterie will ever take for the use of his harvester, so thats all right. And when it comes to the pickers, I guess Stoppenhauser at the bankll advance me a shortie loan. Unless he owes favors to the Farrington Company, that is. Either way, Ive got my best farmhand right here.
I tried to ruffle Henrys hair. He ducked away, embarrassed.
Well, Ive got a good budget of news to tell Mr. Lester, dont I? He wont like any of it, but if hes as smart as he thinks he is, I guess hell know enough to expect her in his office, and sooner rather than later. People have a way of turning up when theyre short on folding green, dont they?
Thats been my experience, I said. If were done here, Sheriff, my boy and I better get back to work. That useless well should have been filled in three years ago. An old cow of mine-
Elphis. Henry spoke like a boy in a dream. Her name was Elphis.
Elphis, I agreed. She got out of the barn and decided to take a stroll on the cap, and it gave way. Didnt have the good grace to die on her own, either. I had to shoot her. Come around the back of the barn Ill show you the wages of laziness with its damn feet sticking up. Were going to bury her right where she lies, and from now on Im going to call that old well Wilfreds Folly.
Well, I would, wouldnt I? Itd be somethin to see. But Ive got that bad-tempered old judge to contend with. Another time. He hoisted himself into the car, grunting as he did so. Thank you for the lemonade, and for bein so gracious. You could have been a lot less so, considering who sent me out here.
Its all right, I said. We all have our jobs.
And our crosses to bear. His sharp eyes fastened on Henry again. Son, Mr. Lester told me you were hidin
Henry looked at his feet. I told her to keep it to herself.
You arent going to hold it against her, are you? Sheriff Jones asked. I mean, when a big man like me with a star on his chest asks a little thing like her what she knows, its kind of hard for the little thing to keep mum, isnt it? She just about has to tell, doesnt she?
I dont know, Henry said, still looking down. Probably. He wasnt just acting unhappiness; he was unhappy. Even though it was going just the way we had hoped it would.
Shannon says your ma and your pop here had a big fight about selling those hundred acres, and when you came down on your poppas side, Missus James slapped you up pretty good.
Yes, Henry said colorlessly. Shed had too much to drink.
Sheriff Jones turned to me. Was she drunk or just tiddly?
Somewhere in between, I said. If shed been all the way to drunk, she would have slept all night instead of getting up and packing a grip and creeping away like a thief.
Thought shed come back once she sobered up, did you?
I did. Its over four miles out to the tarvy. I thought for sure shed come back. Someone must have come along and given her a ride before her head cleared. A trucker on the Lincoln-Omaha run would be my guess.
Yep, yep, thatd be mine, too. Youll hear from her when she contacts Mr. Lester, Im sure. If she means to stay out on her own, if shes got that in her head, shell need money to do it.
So he knew that, too.
His eyes sharpened. Did she have any money at all, Mr. James?
Well
Dont be shy. Confessions good for the soul. The Catholics have got hold of something there, dont they?
I kept a box in my dresser. There was 200 dollars put by in it, to help pay the pickers when they start next month.
And Mr. Cotterie, Henry reminded. To Sheriff Jones, he said: Mr. Cotterie has a corn harvester. A Harris Giant. Almost new. Its a pip.
Yep, yep, saw it in his dooryard. Big bastid, isnt it? Pardon my Polish. Money all gone outn that box, was it?
I smiled sourly-only it wasnt really me making that smile; the Conniving Man had been in charge ever since Sheriff Jones pulled up by the chopping block. She left twenty. Very generous of her. But twentys all Harlan Cotterie will ever take for the use of his harvester, so thats all right. And when it comes to the pickers, I guess Stoppenhauser at the bankll advance me a shortie loan. Unless he owes favors to the Farrington Company, that is. Either way, Ive got my best farmhand right here.
I tried to ruffle Henrys hair. He ducked away, embarrassed.
Well, Ive got a good budget of news to tell Mr. Lester, dont I? He wont like any of it, but if hes as smart as he thinks he is, I guess hell know enough to expect her in his office, and sooner rather than later. People have a way of turning up when theyre short on folding green, dont they?
Thats been my experience, I said. If were done here, Sheriff, my boy and I better get back to work. That useless well should have been filled in three years ago. An old cow of mine-
Elphis. Henry spoke like a boy in a dream. Her name was Elphis.
Elphis, I agreed. She got out of the barn and decided to take a stroll on the cap, and it gave way. Didnt have the good grace to die on her own, either. I had to shoot her. Come around the back of the barn Ill show you the wages of laziness with its damn feet sticking up. Were going to bury her right where she lies, and from now on Im going to call that old well Wilfreds Folly.
Well, I would, wouldnt I? Itd be somethin to see. But Ive got that bad-tempered old judge to contend with. Another time. He hoisted himself into the car, grunting as he did so. Thank you for the lemonade, and for bein so gracious. You could have been a lot less so, considering who sent me out here.
Its all right, I said. We all have our jobs.
And our crosses to bear. His sharp eyes fastened on Henry again. Son, Mr. Lester told me you were hidin
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