Part 20 (1/2)
”Where's Missis Chase?” demanded Greening again, turning his eyes suspiciously around the room.
”Upstairs, I told you Sol,” replied Joe. ”She went to bed early.”
”Hus.h.!.+” cautioned Greening, holding up his hand, listening intently. ”I hear her movin' around. Let me talk to her.”
He tiptoed to the door at the foot of the stairs, and listened again; tiptoed back to the outer portal, which he had left swinging behind him, and closed it gently. There was no sound from above now to indicate that Ollie was awake. Sol stood near Isom's body, straining and listening, his hand to his ear.
”She must 'a' been turnin' over in bed,” said he. ”Well, I guess I'll have to call her. I hate to do it, but she's got to be told.”
”Yes, she must be told,” said Joe.
Sol stood as if reflecting on it a little while. Joe was on the other side of Isom's body, near the table. Both of them looked down into his bloodless face.
”You had words!” said Greening, looking sternly at Joe. ”What about?”
”It was a matter between him and me, Sol, it don't concern anybody else,” said Joe in a manner of dignity and reserve that was blunter than his words. Sol was not impressed by this implied rebuke, and hint to mind his own business.
”That ain't no answer,” said he.
”Well, it will have to do for you, Sol,” said Joe.
”I don't know about that,” declared Sol. ”If you can't give me the straight of it, in plain words, I'll have to take you up.”
Joe stood thoughtfully silent a little while. Then he raised his head and looked at Sol steadily.
”If there's any arresting to be done--” he began, but checked himself abruptly there, as if he had reconsidered what he started to say.
”Hadn't we better pick Isom up off the floor?” he suggested.
”No, no; don't touch him,” Greening interposed hurriedly. ”Leave him lay for the coroner; that's the law.”
”All right.”
”I'll have to tell Missis Chase before we go,” said Sol.
”Yes, you must tell her,” Joe agreed.
Sol rapped on the woodwork of the wall at the bottom of the stairs with his big knuckles. The sound rose sudden and echoing in the house. Ollie was heard opening her door.
”Missis Chase--oh, Missis Chase!” called Greening.
”Who's that, who's that?” came Ollie's voice, tremulous and frightened, little above a whisper, from above.
”It's Sol Greening. Don't come down here, don't come down!”
”What was that noise? It sounded like a gun,” said Ollie, a bit nearer the head of the stairs, her words broken and disjointed.
”Something's happened, something mighty bad,” said Sol. ”You stay right where you are till I send the old woman over to you--do you hear me?--stay right there!”
”Oh, what is it, what is it?” moaned Ollie. ”Joe--where's Joe? Call him, Mr. Greening, call Joe!”
”He's here,” Sol a.s.sured her, his voice full of portent ”he's goin' away with me for a little while. I tell you it's terrible, you must stay right up there.”