Читать книгу The Case Of The Good-For-Nothing Girlfriend - Mabel Maney - Страница 20

“That’s funny,” Cherry frowned as she hung up the telephone receiver and stepped out of the booth. “That’s the second time I’ve called home this morning, and there’s still no answer.”

Cherry had felt sure she’d catch her mother at home. After all, Saturday was her mother’s wash day, and Mrs. Aimless always did everything on the right day. Mondays she baked. Tuesdays she canned fresh fruits and vegetables. Wednesdays she puttered in the garden and attended her ladies’ club luncheon. Thursdays she dusted, swept, and turned the mattresses, and Fridays she washed windows, scrubbed the front steps, and changed the shelf paper in her kitchen cabinets.

“And today she should be home doing the wash,” Cherry thought as she wrinkled her pretty brow, wondering where her mother could have possibly gone. “Perhaps she’s in the basement starching Father’s shirts and didn’t hear the telephone,” Cherry reasoned. “That must be it. Where else could Mother be?”

She forgot her mother’s puzzling absence once she took her seat at the table and had a chance to peruse the menu, which was chock full of tempting treats. They hadn’t had a real breakfast, only coffee and oranges in the car, and Cherry had been forced to abandon her plan of reaching the Rocky Mountains before stopping to dine when even Nancy admitted she was willing to lose a little travel time in order to stop for a snack.

“Besides, if we eat quickly; but not too quickly as to cause stomach-aches, we’ll only be a half hour off schedule,” Cherry realized. She took out her little red spiral notebook and neatly changed the estimated time of their arrival in the Rockies to 12:30 p.m.

Cherry had to admit she could use a bite to eat as well. When it was her turn to order, she was hard-pressed to choose between the special of the day, liver loaf sandwich, or a clear broth soup and raw-vegetable salad served with an assortment of crackers. She knew she should opt for the lighter lunch. Since she had already driven four hours that morning, she would no doubt spend the afternoon napping. A clear broth would be easier to digest, and she’d awake refreshed for her next driving shift.

“But who could sleep with all these beautiful peaks and valleys and ridges and canyons around her?” she thought, as she looked out the large picture window and spied the Rocky Mountains in the distance. It was a clear summer day, the blue sky stretched for miles, and even Nancy looked like she was beginning to perk up. Cherry threw caution to the wind and ordered the yummy liver loaf sandwich, creamed spinach, and an extra side of gravy.

The girls hungrily devoured their lunch. Cherry noted with approval that Lauren was taking bites of Velma’s plate of mixed-vegetable salad. “All my lecturing about the essential food groups is finally beginning to sink in,” she smiled to herself. “Now, if I can just do something about her table manners,” Cherry thought in alarm as she watched Lauren wipe her mouth on her shirt sleeve.

“Lauren, that’s what your napkin is intended for,” Cherry told her nicely, pointing to the red-checkered cloth folded by the side of the girl’s plate. “And, please take off your baseball cap when eating indoors. I could see wearing a hat if this were a picnic,” she added, so the girl wouldn’t think her hopelessly rigid. “You wish to be both pleasing and pleasant to others, don’t you?” Cherry asked.

Lauren just scowled and pretended she hadn’t heard.

“Why don’t you take off your cap?” Velma wondered. “You have such pretty hair.” Lauren blushed and did as Velma suggested.

Midge scowled. Cherry beamed.

“Let’s go!” Midge cried suddenly in a testy tone. She gripped the back of Velma’s chair. “Let’s go, Velma,” she said.

Velma gave Midge an imperious look. “I’m going to fix my lipstick,” she said calmly. “Then we’ll go.” She headed for the ladies’ lounge with Lauren hot on her heels. Midge followed them both.

From the little shriek that came a moment later, Cherry knew that Midge had once again been mistaken for a boy. She saw the grim restaurant manager roughly escort red-faced Midge out to the parking lot.

Cherry gulped down one last bite of her scrumptious liver loaf. She realized that Nancy had barely touched a bite of her cottage cheese and gelatin salad, although she had managed to finish her cocktail! “Is there something else you’d like?” Cherry quizzed her, determined to get some nourishment in her friend.

“I’ll be right back,” Nancy murmured as she grabbed her purse and jumped up from the table. “I’m going to freshen up and then try to reach Bess and George again,” she called over her shoulder.

Cherry stuck some crackers in her purse, hoping she would be able to talk her chum into eating something later. By the time she had paid the bill, tipped the waitress, and purchased a package of chewing gum, she had used up every penny of the pin money she’d squirreled away for small amusements.

She went out to the parking lot and found Midge, leaning against the trunk of the car smoking a cigarette with a sour expression on her face.

“How am I going to buy postcards to send to my friends?” Cherry wailed. But Midge didn’t seem to hear her.

“Did you happen to see my girlfriend?” Midge wanted to know.

Cherry shook her head. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Velma or Lauren since they had disappeared into the ladies’ lounge ten minutes ago,” she said.

“What do you think they’re doing in there?” Midge wondered softly.

Cherry shrugged. “Trying out new hairstyles?” she guessed brightly.

Midge laughed bitterly. “I’ll bet that’s it,” she said. But Cherry didn’t think Midge sounded convinced. Cherry wished she knew what was bothering Midge all of a sudden. Oh, they had been through many an adventure together, and a girl couldn’t ask for anyone braver or bolder than Midge Fontaine, but Cherry knew that under all that teasing and joking beat a real girl’s heart. One that broke easily, Cherry suspected.

Midge was looking at Cherry queerly, as if she could read her mind. She dug through her pockets and came up with a dollar. “For your postcards,” Midge smiled as she handed it to Cherry.

Cherry gave Midge a quick peck on the cheek. She put the worn dollar in her purse. “I’m going to wait until we get to the Rockies to spend it,” she planned out loud. “They’ll have the best scenic postcards.”

“That’s a good idea, Cherry,” Midge said. Suddenly, she perked up. “Look, here’s Velma.”

Velma smiled as she crossed the parking lot to join them.

“What have you and Lauren been doing all this time?” Midge asked in a casual tone.

“Oh, just talking,” Velma said. She got behind the wheel, took a chiffon scarf from her purse, and tied it around her hairdo. “I’ll drive next, okay? I’m getting awfully antsy just sitting all day.”

Cherry checked her little book. “It’s really Nancy’s turn,” she said. “But I think it will be okay. I wish Nancy would hurry up and get out here,” she worried aloud. “We’re going to fall way behind schedule. And where’s Lauren? It seems like she’s always running off.”

“Lauren will be out soon,” Velma said. “Don’t worry about her.”

“I’m going to get a newspaper so I can check the weather report,” Cherry decided.

“What do you and Lauren have to talk about?” Midge wanted to know once Cherry had left. She slid into the seat next to Velma.

“Girl stuff,” Velma said in a casual manner. She took out her compact and powdered her nose.

“What kind of girl stuff?” Midge asked anxiously.

“It’s a secret, Midge.”

“Even from me?” Midge sounded hurt.

“Especially from you,” Velma declared, refusing to budge an inch. She snapped her compact shut.

“Fine,” Midge said, in a sullen tone.

Velma rolled her eyes. “You are such a big baby,” she teased Midge.

“I’m in no mood to be teased,” Midge grumbled. “I’m all sore because I had to sleep on a stupid cot all night—alone—and now—” Velma stopped her angry words with a big kiss.

“I am in a mood to be teased,” Velma whispered. “If we don’t get somewhere soon where we can be alone, I don’t know what I’ll do,” she sighed in Midge’s ear.

Midge gulped hard. Golly, she loved her girlfriend!

“Let’s get out at the next big town and take a train with a sleeper car to Illinois,” Midge grinned.

Velma snuggled close. “What’s on your mind, babe?” she asked. “I mean, besides—”

“Besides a long, slow train ride?” Midge laughed. Then she shrugged. “I’m worried about Nancy’s scheme. You know how you’re always telling me that I have to stop jumping to conclusions all the time? I’m trying, but, well, I just have a bad feeling about this plan of Nancy’s to waltz into River Depths and spill the beans about everyone’s favorite dad.”

“I hope this time you’re wrong, Midge,” Velma said.

“Me, too. All in all, I guess I’d better stay,” Midge admitted. “Someone on this trip’s got to have a level head,” she said, in all seriousness.

“And who would that be?” Velma giggled. “I don’t know, Midge. I’d use a lot of words to describe you, but level-headed wouldn’t be one of them.” She whispered some of those words in Midge’s ear until Midge turned bright red and pulled Velma close for a big kiss just as Cherry appeared back at the car with a horrified expression on her pretty face.

“Midge, Velma, look!” she shrieked. In her hand was a copy of the Wyoming Buffalo Bulletin. And on the front page was a photograph of Nancy, with the caption, “Have you seen this girl?”

Midge closely examined the photograph. “Why is Nancy wearing a tiara?” she wondered.

“Nancy was Miss River Depths 1955,” Cherry replied. “I guess it was the most recent picture the newspaper had on file.”

“We’re safe then,” Midge cracked. “As long as we don’t let Nancy wear her crown outside of the car, no one could possibly spot her from this picture.”

Cherry could see that Midge had a point. “Yes, this photograph is obviously a poor-quality reproduction and four years old, besides. And Nancy’s hair is much more modern now than it was when this photograph was taken,” she said. “Plus, today she’s wearing a casual shirtwaist dress, suitable for car travel, and simple white moccasins. Surely no one will think she’s anyone other than a girl on vacation.”

“So there’s no problem,” Midge said. “Let’s get the others and get out of here.”

“But look, Midge, there’s more!” Cherry cried as she scanned the news article below the picture. In a tremulous tone, she read the horrible story aloud.

DESIRE TO “RULE THE ROOST” MAY HAVE TRIGGERED CRIME, SAYS CRIMINAL EXPERT

River Depths, Illinois—Horrible housekeeper Miss Hannah Gruel, once celebrated for her prize-winning huckleberry pies, now sits in the cell which will likely be her home for years to come. Just twelve days ago, Miss Gruel shot her employer, prominent attorney Carson Clue, during a domestic dispute, leaving him to die on the floor of his newly refurbished Formica kitchen.

“I told that man time and time again to stay out of my kitchen while I was baking,” Miss Gruel declared as she was taken away in handcuffs from the murder scene. Steely-eyed Hannah has maintained a grim silence ever since. River Depthians are left wondering, what made this simple housekeeper suddenly go berserk?

“Hannah Gruel obviously has a deep desire to dominate and one day she could no longer contain herself, and she snapped,” said Prof. Melvin P. Merville, well-known expert and widely read author on matters of the criminal mind. “It’s the classic Rule-the-Roost Syndrome, so common in frustrated spinsters who have trouble accepting male authority.”

“Why, Nancy would be so upset if she knew the horrible things people are saying about Hannah! She’d probably have a hysterical nervous breakdown!” Cherry cried, waving her arms about in excitement. “I must hide this newspaper immediately,” she said as she stuffed the paper in her purse. She snapped her purse shut just in the nick of time, for Nancy had come outside. By the look on her face, Cherry could tell she had had no luck reaching her chums, Bess and George. But she had combed her titian hair into an attractive ponytail.

“It’s time to go,” Midge breathed a sigh of relief upon spying Lauren straggling out to join them. Lauren, Cherry, and Nancy climbed into the back seat and made themselves comfortable. Velma started the car and backed out of the parking lot, only to narrowly miss being rear-ended by a dusty brown Impala.

“Watch out, Velma!” Cherry cried, just in the nick of time.

Velma hit the brakes, and the Impala swerved and sped past them.

“Say, isn’t that the same car that passed us back in Idaho yesterday?” Midge cried out.

“Oh, it couldn’t be,” Cherry countered. “Midge, you’re so paranoid!” she teased.

Velma gave a little laugh and Midge tried to hush her by biting her neck, which only made her giggle harder. Soon everyone except Lauren was laughing joyously as they headed east into the system of canyons and peaks that made up one of the most noteworthy landscapes in the world. Cherry felt in her purse for the offending newspaper. She would throw it away at the first opportunity. Nancy must never see it!

Cherry put her hand in Nancy’s and gave it a little squeeze. “Rocky Mountains, here we come!” she cried happily.