by R A Wallace
Delia lifted her brows. “About?”
“The food thieves.” Gladys looked around and took a step closer. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter but full of excitement. “We heard it was Willie and Harry.”
Delia knew it was but had no intentions of confirming the story now. She also didn’t feel comfortable asking for any details the students may have heard but she did want to know. She hesitated long enough for the others to join the conversation.
“I heard they were selling the food for profit,” Rose said.
Claude’s forehead furrowed with his frown. “They deserve whatever punishment they’re given.”
“Haven’t you heard?” Gladys looked around the hallway before speaking again. “They haven’t been turned over to the police. I heard that they needed the money for their families. Principal Glennon plans to deal with it.” Her smile gave away her excitement at being the one to tell them the news.
“What do you think he’ll do?” Rose asked.
“Maybe the captain will punish them like they do in the service?” Claude suggested.
“What does that mean?” Rose asked.
“It means you shouldn’t be discussing this,” Faye King said as she approached them from the stairs.
“Sorry, Miss King.” Gladys pressed her lips together to stifle her smile but the glimmer of excitement remained in her eyes. “It’s just that the principal is new to the school.”
“And he is from the military,” Rose added. “We aren’t certain what he might do.”
“Whereas I am quite certain that all of you have schoolwork to complete.” Faye made eye contact with each of them.
Gladys slanted a look at Rose. “I was planning to do mine later.”
Rose began moving away with the others. “I already have a start on mine.”
Delia turned to Faye as the group moved away. “You can’t blame them for being curious.”
Faye motioned toward the furniture. “And I don’t. Mind if I wait here with you for the committee meeting?”
“Have you heard anything about the thefts?” Delia sat in the burgundy and white chair.
Faye hummed a negative response. “Only what the students said in my classes today and most of that was probably wrong.”
Delia had heard her fair share of speculation as well. “What punishment might the principal apply, do you know?” She was debating if she should approach the man and speak to him about it. Though she wasn’t yet able to speak with Hazel at length, she knew her cousin was concerned about the predicament of the thieves. They were two of the many students who worked with the kitchen staff to serve the food.
“I have no idea. I don’t know the man. Not really.” Faye smiled a greeting as Mena joined them. “Here is another committee member waiting for the meeting to begin.”
Mena sat next to Faye. “Is this about the latest gossip? That’s all the students have talked about in the library today.”
“Delia was asking about our principal,” Faye said. “And the punishment he might mete out. You know him better than the rest of us. What do you think?”
Mena’s wry smile indicated her disagreement. “I cannot claim a special knowledge of the man. We grew up in the same town, of course. I know of him. I certainly don’t know the man himself.”
Faye looked around then leaned forward. “I understand he was married.”
Delia had wondered about that. She assumed he was in his early thirties. A man of his age and station should have married long ago. She waited to hear Mena’s response.
“Barbara died several years ago. It must have been five, no six years now.” Mena’s eyes dropped to the burgundy and white chair. She looked both directions down the hall before leaning toward Delia. “Bennie told me the chair you sit in now belonged to her.”
Delia felt herself stiffen. She could hear the brusque sound of the captain’s voice when he came upon her sitting in the chair. No wonder he seemed angry.
“It was in Glennon House when he arrived. He ordered it be removed immediately.” Mena was practically whispering.
Delia wondered if he was aware the chair had been moved to Glennon Hall before he saw her sitting in it. Given his reaction, she doubted it now.
Faye whispered something back but Delia couldn’t hear her over the voices in the hallway as their colleagues arrived. It was time for the meeting. As she stood to follow the others to the meeting room, she debated once again if she should approach the new principal. Perhaps he was more understanding than she originally thought?
Chapter Eighteen
Delia had no idea what the principal’s schedule was like. She approached the Biltmore Building with trepidation in between her classes. Part of her hoped the man wasn’t in his office. Once inside the old building named for a past trustee of the school, she paused in the entrance to get her bearings. There were signs pointing to the registrar’s office and the textbook library. It wasn’t until she moved partway down the hall that she saw the signs directing her to the principal’s office on the second floor.
She ascended the stairs slowly, still debating her decision to speak with the principal. The door to the outer office was open when she reached it. Delia squared her shoulders and stepped inside. The look of surprise on Bennie’s face told her that he didn’t often see faculty in his doorway.
“Miss Markham.” Bennie stood so quickly he nearly knocked over his chair. “Is something the matter?”
Delia glanced to her right. The door to the principal’s office was closed. “I was wondering if Principal Glennon might have a moment to speak with me.”
It took Bennie a moment to answer her. His eyes shifted from Delia to the principal’s door and back again.
He swallowed with effort. “Yes, miss. Let me just check on that. If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
Delia remained where she was. Bennie stopped at the principal’s door and turned back to Delia. She knew his attempt at a smile was meant to comfort but the effort failed. He tapped quietly and entered at the sound of a muffled word. He opened the door only enough to slip through. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
She didn’t understand whatever Bennie said. The voice that came after was louder. When Bennie slipped back through the door, Delia was studying the ceiling with interest as though she hadn’t heard the principal’s short-tempered comment.
“Principal Glennon can see you now, miss.” Bennie remained near the open door.
Delia crossed over and entered the office. She heard the soft sound of the door closing behind her as she studied the room. One of the walls was lined with a bookcase. The others held paintings of men she presumed were his relatives. Past principals of the school who once sat in the very same office. The current principal was behind a massive desk. He was watching her with interest.
Delia moved to stand in front of his desk. “Thank you for seeing me, Principal Glennon.”
“Acting principal.” He rested his arms on the desk in front of him. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Miss Markham?”
“I hoped to speak with you about the incident last evening.”
“Indeed? And which incident might that be?” The narrowing of his eyes belied the slight curve of his lips.
“With Willie and Harry, the students that were caught stealing food.”
“Indeed. And your interest in the incident. Are you concerned about the losses of food?”
Delia felt her chin go up. “My concern, sir, is for the students.”
“How so?” He shifted back in his chair as though awaiting her answer.
Delia chose her words carefully. “As you may know, my cousin is the head chef here. Both Willie and Harry worked as servers in the dining hall to help pay for their schooling. An admirable undertaking, would you not agree?”
“Admirable.” The tone of his voice made it clear the activity did not rank highly with him.
“They were also my typewriting students. I can attest to their studious nature in cla
ss,” Delia said.
The last wasn’t completely honest. The two boys were more apt to debate the outcomes of recent baseball games than they were to apply themselves to their assignments.
He steepled his hands together. “And your intentions with this visit, Miss Markham. What is your hope for the outcome?”
“I understand that you haven’t turned the boys over the police?” When he didn’t respond, she continued. “I hoped to sway you toward leniency in their reprimand.”
His brows went up. “Reprimand? They’re thieves. They deserve far more than a reprimand.”
“My understanding is that they stole to support their families,” Delia countered. “Surely that should hold some weight in your decision.”
The look on his face told her it did not. “They need to be punished for their actions. While others are crossing the ocean and taking up arms, these two remain here and take food from others. If I had my say, they’d be joining their brothers in the war. Let them see firsthand the sacrifices that are being made.”
It was the way he said it that gave her pause. “If you had your say?”
His eyes flicked away from hers for a moment before returning. “My sister does not want the misdeeds of those two tied to the name of this school.”
Of course. She should have considered as much. “You plan to offer them leniency?”
“I didn’t say that. If possible, I’ll have those two in uniform.”
“Surely not if it causes their families to suffer?”
“You overstep your duties, Miss Markham. The discipline of students falls under the principal. I believe that ends this conversation.”
“But, sir. Although egregious, their misdeeds were limited to the pilfering of food in the middle of the night. Technically, they were caught moving food from one building on campus to another.”
His eyes locked onto hers. “You sound as though you have some special knowledge of their actions.”
Delia held his gaze. “Perhaps I have difficulty sleeping at night from my memories in the service and I find a late-night stroll soothing, Captain.”
She knew her arrow hit the mark when she saw the flicker of anger in his eyes.
He pushed himself up from his chair and stood glaring at her. “Once again, you overstep your bounds, Yeoman!”
“Captain!” Bennie stood in the open doorway.
Delia and the captain remained where they were, their focus on each other.
“What is it?” Wes ground out.
Bennie stepped into the room. “The groundskeeper. Arch Keaton, sir. He’s just been arrested for murder.”
Chapter Nineteen
Though the preparations for the noonday lunch were underway, only the sounds of the women working could be heard in the kitchen. No one was speaking as Delia burst into the room looking for Hazel. All heads turned toward her but one. Hazel stood in the middle of the room staring at a wall. She had her apron pulled up and was wiping her hands with it.
Delia moved to her cousin and reached for Hazel’s elbow.
“Come with me,” she said gently.
Hazel didn’t argue. She blindly followed Delia to the storeroom. Delia opened the door and nudged Hazel inside before closing the door behind them.
“Tell me what happened.”
Hazel shook her head. “It can’t be. They have to know he wouldn’t do it.”
“Hazel!” It was said sharply on purpose. Hazel’s eyes snapped to hers. “I cannot help if you won’t talk to me. Do you understand?”
Hazel pressed her lips together and nodded. Her hands reached for her apron again.
“Tell me what you know,” Delia asked again. “Who was killed?”
“His name is Frank. Was Frank. Frank Lawton.” Hazel’s eyes were wide with fear as she pulled her apron up and knotted the fabric in her hands.
“Was he from Glennon?”
Hazel nodded mutely.
“How did he die?”
“Poison.” Hazel looked past Delia’s shoulder as though seeing something there. “They said it was arsenate of lead.”
Delia tried to remember everything she’d ever heard of the common insecticide. “Arch used it at the school?”
“He said it was cheaper than Paris green. He buys the powdered form because he uses so much of it. Just everywhere, really. In the garden for the potato and cabbage worms. Then there are the armyworms. He uses it on the fruit trees.” Hazel’s eyes returned to Delia. They no longer looked empty and lost. Now they were pleading. “You’ll help him, won’t you?”
Delia knew it wasn’t the time to argue that success with two young food thieves would hardly qualify her to find a murderer. “Why would anyone think Arch might kill the man?”
A deep furrow appeared on Hazel’s forehead. The apron slipped from her hands as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Frank’s wife.”
“Excuse me?”
“It was when he was a young man. Arch used to court Sadie Lawton. Before she was married, of course. She chose Frank over Arch.” Hazel shook her head slowly. “She married above her station. Frank owned the Electric Shoe Repair in town. He made really good money from it. That’s what attracted Sadie to it. Everyone in town knew it, of course. With the money from his business, she probably never had to work another day of her life. Probably has servants to do everything.”
Delia tried to piece together what Hazel was saying. It didn’t make sense. “If what you say is true, this was many years ago. Why would anyone think Arch would kill him now?”
The fear returned to Hazel’s eyes.
“Hazel, you have to tell me. What is it?”
Hazel’s hands came up to her mouth. “Arch got into an argument with Frank in town.”
“This was recently?”
Hazel nodded. Her eyes looked huge above the small hands covering her mouth.
Delia thought back to her late-night excursions. She encountered Arch more than once. Was it Wednesday when she found him near his outbuilding where he keeps the insecticide? She knew for sure it was him. He’d confessed as much to her.
Hazel’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “He didn’t do. Arch wouldn’t.”
Delia let that go for now. “Why does the name Lawton sound familiar to me?”
Hazel’s hands reached for her apron again. “Probably because of Carl. Frank’s son. Carl was a student at Glennon Normal School.”
***
The hardest part of her next class was not checking the time. Delia knew the students would notice if her eyes continued to find their way to the clock on the wall behind them. She spent a few minutes after the class erasing the chalk from the board to give her students time to file out of the room. As soon as she was certain they were gone, she went down the grand staircase and made her way across campus to the library.
Mena was at the front desk speaking with a student when Delia found her. After one look at Delia, she excused herself from the student and came around the desk.
Mena’s eyes scanned the room. “Over here.”
Delia followed her from the main library room to a hallway that led to a recreation hall. When Mena took a seat at the end of the hallway, Delia sat next to her.
“You look as though you ran all the way over here.” Mena’s eyes went up to Delia’s hair.
“I believe I did.” Delia’s hands rose automatically and began tucking loose hairs back into their pins. “Have you heard?”
“About Arch?” Mena’s eyes held understanding. “I imagine Hazel must be beside herself.”
Delia had wondered if anyone knew of their relationship.
Mena checked the hall to make sure they were alone. “Her secret is safe with me. I’ve never told anyone.”
“But you knew?”
“Not with any certainty. I suspected. I saw them look at each other once. It was so sweet.” Mena sounded wistful.
“Can you tell me anything about the man that died?” Delia tucked another strand of hair into a pin.
“Frank Lawton? You know that his son used to be a student here?”
Delia made a noise indicating yes.
“Frank and Sadie Lawton own the Electric Shoe Repair. They do a very nice business there.” A small furrow appeared briefly between Mena’s brows. “Years ago, he used to have a partner in the shop.”
Delia felt her head for more loose hairs. Finding none, she dropped her hands to her lap. “What happened to him?”
“That’s just it. I’ve never heard any gossip. Not about that, at any rate.” Mena’s eyes darted around the hall. “His name was Bob Hinkle. Once he and Frank parted ways, Bob took a job here.”
Delia wasn’t expecting to hear that. “Here at the normal school? Doing what?”
“Night watchman. I imagine it was a difficult transition for him but at the time I suspect he needed the money.”
“Why did he leave here?”
“That I don’t know.” Mena made a face of apology.
“It’s alright.” Delia thought of Bennie. “I may know someone who does.”
Mena leaned forward and whispered. “There was a mention in the newspaper once about Bob. The police had to be called to his house.”
“For what?”
Mena pressed her lips together as she leaned back in her chair. “The newspaper said his wife chose not to file any charges.”
Delia understood what that meant. “I have to get back to Glennon Hall. I have another class starting soon.”
Mena stood when Delia did. “I feel so badly about Arch. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
Delia thanked Mena and quickly made the return trip to her classroom. Just as she neared the front entrance, she saw Bennie exiting. She remained where she was until he reached her.
“Miss Markham. I wish to apologize.” Bennie glanced around them. “On behalf of Mr. Glennon.”
Delia smiled at a group of students then moved over to the side out of hearing range. “There’s no need for that, I assure you.” When he tried to disagree, she interrupted him. “Bennie, I need your help.”
She saw that she had his attention. “I know that you have access to the employee records.” She waited for him to nod his agreement. “I need you to find one in particular for me.”
