Death Takes a Bow by Lockridge Frances & Lockridge Richard

Author:Lockridge, Frances & Lockridge, Richard [Lockridge, Frances & Lockridge, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9780671443375
Goodreads: 3225128
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1943-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

VIII

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 7:30 P.M. TO 8:45 P.M.

Mrs. North dialed and waited. The telephone buzzed properly and then clicked and spluttered. Absently, Mrs. North reached out and removed Ruffy’s right forepaw from the telephone cradle, which Ruffy had been investigating. Mrs. North dialed again and a markedly wheedling voice said: “United States Weather Bureau forecast for New York City and vicinity: Twelve noon temperature fifty-six degrees, humidity ninety-five per cent. This afternoon and early tonight, showers. Not much change in temperature. Drive carefully and save rubber.”

Mrs. North said “thank you” and remembered that Jerry told her she shouldn’t, because the dulcet voice was really a recording and had no ears. But Mrs. North, although she believed this with her mind, did not really believe it, and it seemed rude to her not to say anything at all, particularly about driving carefully. Mrs. North removed Ruffy’s left fore-paw, which was partly wedged under the depressible bar in the telephone cradle, parked the telephone and looked out the window. A gust of wind threw rain blindingly against the window, and the window rattled.

“Showers,” said Mrs. North. “Probably intended to fool the Germans.”

Because this wasn’t a shower. This was a deluge. Mrs. North rephrased the weather forecast, to make it conform with the fact. “This afternoon and early tonight, deluges.” Or maybe: “Occasional deluges.” It would have to end: “Swim carefully; conserve life belts.”

It was, Mrs. North realized, being very boring for the nieces. Here was a Saturday and their first in New York, and on Saturdays sailors came in clusters. Not, Mrs. North thought a little anxiously, that the sailors must be allowed to do Beth and Margie any good. But on a sunny day, girls could look at sailors and know that sailors were looking at them, and that probably was enough.

“It had better be,” Mrs. North thought, looking out the window and thinking of the now very disturbing trust put in her by her sister. But they’re really such nice little girls.

“Aunt Pam,” Beth said from behind her and Mrs. North turned. Beth looked out of the window. “It rains a lot in New York, doesn’t it?” she said, conversationally.

“Sometimes,” Mrs. North said. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh,” Beth said, encouragingly, “it isn’t your fault. Aunt Pam.” But the exoneration sounded rather formal. “You can’t help it, really. I expect it’s just New York. Or the equinox.”

“It’s too late for the equinox,” Mrs. North said. “At least I think it is. And I don’t really know if there is any, Beth. To make it rain, I mean. I think it just happened to rain.”

Beth looked out at the window, which streamed.

“It certainly is,” she said. “I don’t suppose we’ll be going out, Aunt Pam. I mean, out anywhere. Like a movie.”

It didn’t, Pam thought, looking out the window in her turn, look much like it. But the alternative was Beth and Margie and herself and Martha, in a rather small apartment. Especially, she added to herself, Beth.

“Oh,” Pam North said, “in New York people don’t let it stop them.

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