Jane Carter Investigates: Episode Seven
We had reached White Falls. It was a small town of perhaps a
thousand inhabitants. It was built on the bank of the Grassy River. White Falls
had once been prosperous, but now many old dwellings were deserted, and the
entire place had a sleepy, “we’ve seen better days,” appearance.
“Well, we’re here,” I said, parking the car in front of a
restaurant at the edge of the business section. “I wonder where we’ll find Old
Mansion?”
“The advertisement gave no address,” Emma said.
“I’ll run into the café and inquire,” I offered
I returned in a moment but did not climb back into the car.
“We stopped at the right place, girls. Old Mansion is next door.”
“Next door!” Emma turned to stare at the row of buildings. “You don’t
mean that old house jammed in between the café and that laundry!”
“I’m afraid that’s the place all right.”
“It’s so run down,” said Emma. “There’s no yard and the rear of
the building borders directly on the river. How could they call it a mansion?”
“Someone did have plenty of imagination,” I agreed. “But it
certainly is large, and I judge the house has seen better days. That laundry,
for instance, appears to have been built quite recently.”
“I wouldn’t apply for the position if I were you, Emma,” advised
Florence.
“No,” I said. “Emma, if you don’t care for the look of it, we’ll
simply drive back.”
Emma stared again at the shabby wooden building whose sagging
porch fronted the street, and after an obvious struggle with herself, said:
“No, it’s probably all right inside. Anyway, I’m desperate for a job. If the
place is still open, I’ll take it!”
She stepped from the car and started toward the house.
“Wait a moment, Florence,” I said. “I have to lock the car.”
I fumbled with the key, and then, when Emma was beyond hearing, I
said in an undertone: “Florence, I don’t know what to do. There’s something I
should tell Emma, and yet I’m afraid it will upset her.”
“About Old Mansion?” she asked.
“Yes, a strange thing happened. When I asked the café owner to direct me to the place, he gave me the oddest look. ‘It’s the house next door,’ he said, ‘but take my advice and don’t spend a night there!’”
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