A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy

Author:Maryann Shanesy [Shanesy, Maryann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

I knew I had to find out more about the button and made an appointment with the appraiser that Dorothy recommended. Located about ten miles outside of town, his antique store was set back from the road. Out front were various outdoor vintage chairs. The bell jingled as I opened the door. A few minutes later, an older gentleman at least a foot and a half shorter than me in a cardigan sweater walked up to greet me.

“Are you the button lady?” His tone was animated and with his arms outstretched, I was afraid he was going to try to hug me.

“Yes." I stepped back a bit to create some space between us.

“I’m Conrad Dillamore. Please let me see what you’ve brought.”

Taking the button out of the plastic bag, I emptied it on the counter. Conrad took out a magnifying glass and peered closely at it from both sides.

“It’s a lovely silver button from a Civil War uniform. Let me get out a book to show you.” He gingerly placed the button in a container and came back a few minutes later with a book.

“An entire book on buttons.” I watched him open the large volume on the counter.

“Yes, this is my encyclopedia. If you have collectors, you need a good reference.” Conrad began flipping through the book. “Just as I thought. This one is pretty rare. Turning the book, he showed me a photo of a similar button. “If you’d like to sell it, I could give you a good price.”

“Not at this time. I just wanted to confirm that it was from an authentic Civil War Uniform.”

“That’s so disappointing.” Conrad frowned. “Where did you get it?”

“I just found it around town,” I fibbed, not wanting to divulge any details.

“By the way, do you know anything about Alice Burton? She later became the president’s wife,” I asked.

“Ahh yes, our First Lady from this area. She was a great humanitarian,” Conrad commented.

“I heard her diary has never been located,” I said.

“Yes, that has long been talked about. Some of her diaries that she kept while in the White House and later in life are housed in a museum. But it is also rumored that she kept a diary as a young woman before she married the president, and that’s the one that no one can find,” Conrad explained.

“I know her family lived for a while in the house on the site of the consignment shop and her father ran a hospital out of the building where Milton’s was,” I said.

“Yes, there are stories of her helping with some of the wounded young men. She was known as a very caring person. And a natural beauty, just like you.” Conrad looked me up and down.

I suddenly felt quite uncomfortable with his scrutiny.

“I may try to read more about her.” I crossed my arms.

“Poor Milton, I was sorry to hear what happened to him. I was the official appraiser for the vendors that brought in merchandise. Between you and me,” he

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