VII + 

From Friday morning until the following Tuesday noon, moving amid such scenes as previously had so exhilarated and enthralled him, Clyde was now compelled to suffer the most frightful fears and dreads. For, although met by Sondra, as well as Bertine, at the door of the Cranston lodge, and shown by them to the room he was to occupy, he could not help but contrast every present delight here with the danger of his immediate and complete destruction. + 

As he had entered, Sondra had poutingly whispered, so that Bertine might not hear: вАЬBaddie! Staying down there a whole week when you might have been up here. And Sondra planning everything for you! You ought to have a good spanking. I was going to call up today to see where you were.вАЭ Yet at the same time her eyes conveying the infatuation that now dominated her. + 

And he, in spite of his troubled thoughts achieving a gay smileвБ†вАФfor once in her presence even the terror of RobertaвАЩs death, his own present danger appeared to dwindle. If only all went well, nowвБ†вАФnothing were traced to him! A clear path! A marvelous future! Her beauty! Her love! Her wealth. And yet, after being ushered to his room, his bag having been carried in before him, at once becoming nervous as to the suit. It was damp and wrinkled. He must hide it on one of the upper shelves of a closet, maybe. And the moment he was alone and the door locked, taking it out, wet and wrinkled, the mud of the shores of Big Bittern still about the legsвБ†вАФyet deciding perhaps notвБ†вАФperhaps he had better keep it locked in his bag until night when he could better decide what to do. Yet tying up in a single bundle, in order to have them laundered, other odds and ends he had worn that day. And, as he did so, terribly, sickeningly conscious of the mystery and drama as well as the pathos of his lifeвБ†вАФall he had contacted since his arrival in the east, how little he had in his youth. How little he had now, really. The spaciousness and grandeur of this room as contrasted with the one he occupied in Lycurgus. The strangeness of his being here at all after yesterday. The blue waters of this bright lake without as contrasted with the darker ones of Big Bittern. And on the greensward that reached from this bright, strong, rambling house, with its wide veranda and striped awnings to the shore of the lake itself, Stuart Finchley and Violet Taylor, together with Frank Harriet and Wynette Phant, in the smartest of sport clothes, playing tennis, while Bertine and Harley Baggott tolled in the shade of a striped marquee swing. + 

And, he himself, after bathing and dressing, assuming a jocular air although his nerves remained tense and his mood apprehensive. And then descending to where Sondra and Burchard Taylor and Jill Trumbull were laughing over some amusing experiences in connection with motorboating the day before. Jill Trumbull called to him as he came out: вАЬHello, Clyde! Been playing hookey or what? I havenвАЩt seen you in I donвАЩt know when.вАЭ And he, after smiling wistfully at Sondra, craving as never before her sympathy as well as her affection, drawing himself up on the railing of the veranda and replying, as smoothly as he could: вАЬBeen working over at Albany since Tuesday. Hot down there. ItвАЩs certainly fine to be up here today. WhoвАЩs all up?вАЭ And Jill Trumbull, smiling: вАЬOh, nearly everyone, I guess. I saw Vanda over at the RandallsвАЩ yesterday. And Scott wrote Bertine he was coming to the Point next Tuesday. It looks to me as though no one was going over to Greenwood much this year.вАЭ And then a long and intense discussion as to why Greenwood was no longer what it had been. And then Sondra exclaiming: вАЬThat reminds me! I have to phone Bella today. She promised to come up to that horse show over at Bristol week after next, sure.вАЭ And then more talk of horses and dogs. And Clyde, listening intently in his anxiety to seem an integral part of it all, yet brooding on all that so desperately concerned him. Those three men. Roberta. Maybe they had found her body by nowвБ†вАФwho could tell, yet saying to himselfвБ†вАФwhy so fearsome? Was it likely that in that depth of waterвБ†вАФfifty feet maybe, for all he knewвБ†вАФthat they would find her? Or that they could ever identify him with Clifford Golden or Carl Graham? How could they? HadnвАЩt he really and truly covered his tracks except for those three men? Those three men! He shivered, as with cold, in spite of himself. + 

And then Sondra, sensing a note of depression about him. (She had determined from his obvious lack of equipment on his first visit that perhaps the want of money was at the bottom of his present mood, and so proposed later this day to extract seventy-five dollars from her purse and force that upon him in order that at no point where petty expenditures should be required, should he feel the least bit embarrassed during his stay this time.) And after a few moments, thinking of the short golf course, with its variety of concealing hazards for unseen kisses and embraces, she now jumped up with: вАЬWhoвАЩs for a mixed foursome? Come on, Jill, Clyde, Burch! IвАЩll bet Clyde and I can turn in a lower card than you two can!вАЭ + 

вАЬIвАЩll take that!вАЭ exclaimed Burchard Taylor, rising and straightening his yellow and blue striped sweater, вАЬeven if I didnвАЩt get in until four this morning. How about you, Jilly? If you want to make that for the lunches, Sonny, IвАЩll take it.вАЭ + 

And at once Clyde wincing and chilling, for he was thinking of the miserable twenty-five dollars left him from all his recent ghastly adventures. And a lunch for four here would cost not less than eight or ten dollars! Perhaps more. At the same time, Sondra, noting his expression, exclaimed: вАЬThatвАЩs a go!вАЭ and drawing near to Clyde tapped him gently with her toe, exclaiming: вАЬBut I have to change. IвАЩll be right down. In the meantime, Clyde, IвАЩll tell you what you doвБ†вАФgo and find Andrew and tell him to get the clubs, will you? We can go over in your boat, canвАЩt we, Burchy?вАЭ And Clyde, hurrying to find Andrew, and thinking of the probable cost of the lunch if he and Sondra were defeated, but being caught up with by Sondra and seized by the arm. вАЬWait a minute, honey, IвАЩll be right back.вАЭ Then dashing up the steps to her room, and in a moment down again, a handful of bills she had reserved shut tightly in her little fist: вАЬHere, darling, quick!вАЭ she whispered, taking hold of one of ClydeвАЩs coat pockets and putting the money into it. вАЬSsh! Not a word, now! Hurry! ItвАЩs to pay for the lunch in case we lose, and some other things. IвАЩll tell you afterwards. Oh, but I do love you, baby boy!вАЭ And then, her warm, brown eyes fixed on him for a moment in profound admiration, dashing up the stairs again, from where she called: вАЬDonвАЩt stand there, silly! Get the golf clubs! The golf clubs!вАЭ And she was gone. + 

And Clyde, feeling his pocket and realizing that she had given him muchвБ†вАФplenty, no doubt, for all of his needs while here, as well as to escape if need be. And exclaiming to himself: вАЬDarling!вАЭ вАЬBaby girl!вАЭ His beautiful, warm, generous Sondra! She loved him soвБ†вАФtruly loved him. But if ever she should find out! Oh, God! And yet all for her, if she only knew. All for her! And then finding Andrew and returning with him carrying the bags. + 

And here was Sondra again, dancing down in a smart green knitted sports costume. And Jill in a new cap and blouse which made her look like a jockey, laughing at Burchard who was at the wheel of the boat. And Sondra calling back to Bertine and Harley Baggott in the swing as she was passing: вАЬHey, fellows! You wonвАЩt come, eh?вАЭ + 

вАЬWhere?вАЭ + 

вАЬCasino Golf Club.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, too far. See you after lunch on the beach, though.вАЭ + 

And then Burchard shooting the boat out in the lake with a whir that set it bounding like a porpoiseвБ†вАФand Clyde gazing half in a dream, half delight and hope and the other half a cloud of shadow and terror, with arrest and death, maybe, stalking close behind. For in spite of all his preliminary planning, he was beginning to feel that he had made a mistake in openly coming out of the wood this morning. And yet had it not been best, since the only alternative was that of remaining there by day and coming out at night and following the shore road on foot to Sharon? That would have required two or three days. And Sondra, anxious as well as curious about the delay, might have telephoned to Lycurgus, thereby raising some question in regard to him which might have proved dangerous later might it not? + 

But here now, this bright day, with seemingly no cares of any kind, for these others at least, however dark and bleak his own background might be. And Sondra, all gayety because of his presence, now jumping up, her bright scarf held aloft in one hand like a pennant, and exclaiming foolishly and gayly: вАЬCleopatra sailing to meetвБ†вАФto meetвБ†вАФwho was it she was sailing to meet, anyhow?вАЭ + 

вАЬCharlie Chaplin,вАЭ volunteered Taylor, at the same time proceeding to ricochet the boat as roughly and erratically as possible in order to make her lose her balance. + 

вАЬOh, you silly!вАЭ returned Sondra, spreading her feet sufficiently apart to maintain her equilibrium, and adding for the benefit of Burchard: вАЬNo, you donвАЩt either, Burchy,вАЭ then continuing: вАЬCleopatra sailing, a-a-oh, I know, aquaplaning,вАЭ and throwing her head back and her arms wide, while the boat continued to jump and lurch like a frightened horse. + 

вАЬSee if you can upset me now, Burchy,вАЭ she called. + 

And Burchard, throwing the boat from side to side as swiftly as he dared, with Jill Trumbull, anxious for her own safety, calling: вАЬOh, say, what do you want to do? Drown us all?вАЭ at which Clyde winced and blanched as though struck. + 

At once he felt sick, weak. He had never imagined that it was going to be like this; that he was going to suffer so. He had imagined that it was all going to be different. And yet here he was, blanching at every accidental and unintended word! Why, if he were put to any real testвБ†вАФan officer descending on him unexpectedly and asking him where he had been yesterday and what he knew of RobertaвАЩs deathвБ†вАФwhy, he would mumble, shiver, not be able to talk, maybeвБ†вАФand so give his whole case away wouldnвАЩt he! He must brace up, try to look natural, happyвБ†вАФmustnвАЩt heвБ†вАФfor this first day at least. + 

Fortunately in the speed and excitement of the play, the others seemed not to notice the startling effect of the remark upon him, and he managed by degrees to recover his outward composure. Then the launch approached the Casino and Sondra, wishing to execute some last showy stunt, jumped up and catching the rail pulled herself up, while the boat rolled past only to reverse later. And Clyde, because of a happy smile in his direction, was seized by an uncontrollable desire for herвБ†вАФher love, sympathy, generosity, courage. And so now, to match her smiles, he jumped up and after assisting Jill to the steps, quickly climbed up after her, pretending a gayety and enthusiasm that was as hollow inwardly as outwardly it was accurate. + 

вАЬGee! Some athlete you are!вАЭ + 

And then on the links a little later with her, and under her guidance and direction, playing as successful a game as it was possible with his little experience and as troubled as he was. And she, because of the great delight of having him all to herself in shadowy hazards where they might kiss and embrace, beginning to tell him of a proposed camping trip which she, Frank Harriet, Wynette Phant, Burchard Taylor, her brother Stuart, Grant Cranston and Bertine, as well as Harley Baggott, Perley Haynes, Jill Trumbull and Violet Taylor, had been organizing for a week, and which was to begin on the morrow afternoon, with a motor trip thirty miles up the lake and then forty miles east to a lake known as Bear, along which, with tents and equipment, they were to canoe to certain beaches and scenes known only to Harley and Frank. Different days, different points. The boys would kill squirrels and catch fish for food. Also there would be moonlight trips to an inn that could be reached by boat, so they said. A servant or two or three from different homes was to accompany them, as well as a chaperon or two. But, oh, the walks in the woods! The opportunities for loveвБ†вАФcanoe trips on the lakeвБ†вАФhours of uninterrupted lovemaking for at least a week! + 

In spite of all that had occurred thus far to give him pause, he could not help thinking that whatever happened, was it not best to go? How wonderful to have her love him so! And what else here could he do? It would take him out of this, would it notвБ†вАФfarther and farther from the scene of theвБ†вАФof theвБ†вАФaccident and in case anyone were looking for anyone who looked like him, for instanceвБ†вАФwell, he would not be around where he could be seen and commented upon. Those three men. + 

Yet, as it now instantly occurred to him, under no circumstances must he leave here without first finding out as definitely as possible whether anyone was as yet suspected. And once at the Casino, and for the moment left alone, he learned on inquiring at the news stand that there would be no Albany, Utica, or any local afternoon paper there until seven or seven-thirty. He must wait until then to know. + 

And so although after the lunch there was swimming and dancing, then a return to the Cranstons with Harley Baggott and BertineвБ†вАФSondra going to Pine Point, with an agreement to meet him afterwards at the HarrietsвАЩ for dinnerвБ†вАФstill his mind was on the business of getting these papers at the first possible opportunity. Yet unless, as he now saw, he was so fortunate as to be able to stop on his way from the CranstonsвАЩ to the HarrietsвАЩ and so obtain one or all, he must manage to come over to this Casino in the morning before leaving for Bear Lake. He must have them. He must know what, if anything, was either being said or done so far in regard to that drowned couple. + 

But on his way to HarrietsвАЩ he was not able to get the papers. They had not come. And none at the HarrietsвАЩ either, when he first arrived. Yet sitting on the veranda about a half hour later, talking with the others although brooding as to all this, Sondra herself appeared and said: вАЬOh, say, people! IвАЩve got something to tell you. Two people were drowned this morning or yesterday up at Big Bittern, so Blanche Locke was telling me just now over the phone. SheвАЩs up at Three Mile Bay today and she says theyвАЩve found the body of the girl but not the man yet. They were drowned in the south part of the lake somewhere, she said.вАЭ + 

At once Clyde sat up, rigid and white, his lips a bloodless line, his eyes fixed not on anything here but rather the distant scene at Big BitternвБ†вАФthe tall pines, the dark water closing over Roberta. Then they had found her body. And now would they believe that his body was down there, too, as he had planned? But, listen! He must hear in spite of his dizziness. + 

вАЬGee, thatвАЩs tough!вАЭ observed Burchard Taylor, stopping his strumming on a mandolin. вАЬAnybody we know?вАЭ + 

вАЬShe says she didnвАЩt hear yet.вАЭ + 

вАЬI never did like that lake,вАЭ put in Frank Harriet. вАЬItвАЩs too lonely. Dad and I and Mr.¬†Randall were up there fishing last summer, but we didnвАЩt stay long. ItвАЩs too gloomy.вАЭ + 

вАЬWe were up there three weeks agoвБ†вАФdonвАЩt you remember, Sondra?вАЭ added Harley Baggott. вАЬYou didnвАЩt care for it.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, I remember,вАЭ replied Sondra. вАЬA dreadfully lonely place. I canвАЩt imagine anyone wanting to go up there for anything.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, I only hope it isnвАЩt anyone we know from around here,вАЭ added Burchard, thoughtfully. вАЬIt would put a crimp in the fun around here for a while, anyhow.вАЭ + 

And Clyde unconsciously wet his dry lips with his tongue and swallowed to moisten his already dry throat. + 

вАЬI donвАЩt suppose any of todayвАЩs papers would have anything about it yet. Has anyone looked?вАЭ inquired Wynette Phant, who had not heard SondraвАЩs opening remark. + 

вАЬThere ainвАЩt no papers,вАЭ commented Burchard Taylor. вАЬBesides, itвАЩs not likely yet, didnвАЩt Sondra say she just heard it from Blanche Locke over the phone? SheвАЩs up near there.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, yes, thatвАЩs right.вАЭ + 

And yet might not that small local afternoon paper of SharonвБ†вАФThe Banner, wasnвАЩt itвБ†вАФhave something as to this? If only he could see it yet tonight! + 

But another thought! For HeavenвАЩs sake! It came to him now for the first time. His footprints! Were there any in the mud of that shore? He had not even stopped to look, climbing out so hastily as he did. And might there not have been? And then would they not know and proceed to follow himвБ†вАФthe man those three men saw? Clifford Golden! That ride down this morning. His going out to the CranstonsвАЩ in their car. That wet suit over in the room at the CranstonsвАЩ! Had anyone in his absence been in his room as yet to look, examine, inquireвБ†вАФopen his bag, maybe? An officer? God! It was there in his bag. But why in his bag or anywhere else near him now? Why had he not hidden it before thisвБ†вАФthrown it in the lake here, maybe, with a stone in it? That would keep it down. God! What was he thinking in the face of such a desperate situation as this? Supposing he did need the suit! + 

He was now up, standingвБ†вАФmentally and physically frozen reallyвБ†вАФhis eyes touched with a stony glaze for the moment. He must get out of here. He must go back there, at once, and dispose of that suitвБ†вАФdrop it in the lakeвБ†вАФhide it somewhere in those woods beyond the house! And yetвБ†вАФhe could not do that so swiftly, eitherвБ†вАФleave so instantly after this light conversation about the drowning of those two people. How would that look? + 

And as instantly there came the thoughtвБ†вАФnoвБ†вАФbe calmвБ†вАФshow no trace of excitement of any kind, if you can manage itвБ†вАФappear coolвБ†вАФmake some unimportant remark, if you can. + 

And so now, mustering what nervous strength he had, and drawing near to Sondra, he said: вАЬToo bad, eh?вАЭ Yet in a voice that for all its thinly-achieved normality was on the borderline of shaking and trembling. His knees and his hands, also. + 

вАЬYes, it certainly is,вАЭ replied Sondra, turning to him alone now. вАЬI always hate to hear of anything like that, donвАЩt you? Mother worries so about Stuart and me fooling around these lakes as it is.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, I know.вАЭ His voice was thick and heavy. He could scarcely form the words. They were smothered, choked. His lips tightened to a thinner white line than before. His face grew paler still. + 

вАЬWhy, whatвАЩs the matter, Clydie?вАЭ Sondra asked, of a sudden, looking at him more closely. вАЬYou look so pale! Your eyes. Anything wrong? ArenвАЩt you feeling well tonight, or is it this light out here?вАЭ + 

She turned to look at some of the others in order to make sure, then back at him. And he, feeling the extreme importance of looking anything but the way she was describing him now drew himself up as best he could, and replied: вАЬOh, no. It must be the light, I guess. Sure, itвАЩs the light. I hadвБ†вАФaвБ†вАФa hard day yesterday, thatвАЩs all. I shouldnвАЩt have come over tonight, I suppose.вАЭ And then achieving the weirdest and most impossible of smiles. And Sondra, gazing most sympathetically, adding: вАЬWas he so tired? My Clydie-mydie boy, after his work yesterday. Why didnвАЩt my baby boy tell me that this morning instead of doing all that we did today? Want me to get Frank to run you down to the CranstonsвАЩ now? Or maybe youвАЩd like to go up in his room and lie down? He wonвАЩt mind, I know. Shall I ask him?вАЭ + 

She turned as if to speak to Frank, but Clyde, all but panic-stricken by this latest suggestion, and yet angling for an excuse to leave, exclaimed earnestly and yet shakily: вАЬPlease, please donвАЩt, darling. IвБ†вАФIвБ†вАФdonвАЩt want you to. IвАЩll be all right. IвАЩll go up after a bit if I want to, or maybe home a little early, if youвАЩre going after a while, but not now. IвАЩm not feeling as good as I should, but IвАЩll be all right.вАЭ + 

Sondra, because of his strained and as she now fancied almost peevish tone, desisted with: вАЬAll right, honey. All right. But if you donвАЩt feel well, I wish you would let me get Frank to take you down or go upstairs. He wonвАЩt mind. And then after a whileвБ†вАФabout ten-thirtyвБ†вАФIвАЩll excuse myself and you can go down with me to your place. IвАЩll take you there before I go home and whoever else wants to go. WonвАЩt my baby boy do something like that?вАЭ + 

And Clyde saying: вАЬWell, I think IвАЩll go up and get a drink, anyhow.вАЭ And disappearing in one of the spacious baths of the Harriet home, locking the door and sitting down and thinking, thinkingвБ†вАФof RobertaвАЩs body recovered, of the possibilities of a bruise of some kind, of the possibility of the print of his own feet in the mud and sandy loam of the shore; of that suit over at the CranstonsвАЩ, the men in the wood, RobertaвАЩs bag, hat and coat, his own liningless hat left on the waterвБ†вАФand wondering what next to do. How to act! How to talk! Whether to go downstairs to Sondra now and persuade her to go, or whether to stay and suffer and agonize? And what would the morrowвАЩs papers reveal? What? What? And was it wise, in case there was any news which would make it look as though eventually he was to be sought after, or in any way connected with this, to go on that proposed camping trip tomorrow! Or, wiser, to run away from here? He had some money now. He could go to New York, Boston, New Orleans where Ratterer wasвБ†вАФbut oh, noвБ†вАФnot where anyone knew him. + 

Oh, God! The folly of all his planning in connection with all this to date! The flaws! Had he ever really planned it right from the start? Had he ever really imagined, for instance, that RobertaвАЩs body would be found in that deep water? And yet, here it wasвБ†вАФrisen so soonвБ†вАФthis first dayвБ†вАФto testify against him! And although he had signed as he had on those registers up there, was it not possible now, on account of those three men and that girl on that boat, for him to be traced? He must think, think, think! And get out of here as soon as possible, before anything really fatal in connection with that suit should happen. + 

Growing momentarily weaker and more terrorized, he now decided to return to Sondra below, and say that he was really feeling quite sick and that if she did not object he would prefer to go home with her, if she could arrange it. And consequently, at ten-thirty, when the evening still had hours to go, Sondra announced to Burchard that she was not feeling well and would he run her and Clyde and Jill down to her place, but that she would see them all on the morrow in time for the proposed departure for Bear Lake. + 

And Clyde, though brooding as to whether this early leaving on his part was not another of those wretched errors which had seemed to mark every step of this desperate and murderous scheme so far, finally entering the swift launch and being raced to the Cranston lodge in no time. And once there, excusing himself to Burchard and Sondra as nonchalantly and apologetically as might be, and then hurrying to his own room only to find the suit as he had left itвБ†вАФno least evidence that anyone had been there to disturb the serenity of his chamber. Just the same, nervously and suspiciously, he now took it out and tied it up, and then waiting and listening for a silent moment in which to slip from the house unobservedвБ†вАФfinally ambled out as though going for a short walk. And then, by the shore of the lakeвБ†вАФabout a quarter of a mile distant from the houseвБ†вАФseeking out a heavy stone and tying the suit to that. And then throwing it out into the water, as far as his strength would permit. And then returning, as silently and gloomily and nervously as he had gone, and brooding and brooding as to what the morrow might reveal and what, if any appeared to question him, he would say. + 