Author: Robert F. Clifton

Book online «The Case Of The Missing Bride, Robert F. Clifton [good books to read for beginners TXT] 📗». Author Robert F. Clifton

Go to page:

agrees.

We read in Sally White's diary that the last time she saw her daughter was when she got up from the table and went outside through the kitchen. Then, she disappears for over a hundred years.

Remember, everyone is in the ballroom. Partheana goes out through the kitchen and instead of going to the outhouse as everyone thought she did, she comes back around to the front of the house and enters through the unlocked front door. She then climbs the stairs to the top floor and enters the attic just like she had been doing for years.

Her favorite hiding spot is the old, wooden chest of Hiram White. She has been hiding in it by climbing in, laying in the fetal position while holding the trunk lid open with one hand in order to see if anyone was coming near her.

This time however, she makes a mistake. Someway she moves the hand holding the trunk lid and it drops. When it drops the handmade, iron spring lock engages and Partheana is trapped. She tries to get out, but the lid is fast. She calls out. No one hears her over the orchestra playing downstairs. She screams, again no one hears her. Slowly, the air in the trunk is being used by her. In absolute panic she claws at the inside of the trunk trying desperately to get out. We know that by the fact that the tips of her fingers were missing, worn away. Then, do to a lack of oxygen she passes out and eventually dies of suffocation.

In the days, months and years that followed many people walked by Hiram White's trunk. They probably moved it, sat on it, all the time ignoring it because there was no key. Fortunately Sidney Kaplan and his historical Society saved the belongings of the White Family.

And, of course who can forget the challenge Reds Morton presented to the Nautilus Beach Police Department. Thanks Red. And by the way here is a list of the expenses occurred for the investigation. As I remember it's slightly over five thousand dollars. And to you people watching. Keep in mind that it was Sidney Kaplan's historical society that played a large part in this case. So, support the museum, make donations.”

Wallace smiled at the embarrassed appearance on Morton's face.

******************

Mary Wallace stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes. Robert Wallace sat in his favorite chair watching television. Mary stopped rinsing a plate when she heard her husband say.”Son of a bitch”.

“Lousy Bastard”.

She quickly dried her hands and went to where Robert sat complaining.

“What are you doing?”, she asked.

“These lousy damn weather men. They don't know their ass from their elbow. See that dumb son of a bitch right there”, he said pointing to the television.

“Yes, what about him.?

“He's been giving me the weather for the past five minutes in Alaska. What the hell do I care about the weather in Alaska? I'm in New Jersey. Hell, I don't even know anyone in Alaska”.

“Let's see now. Lawyers and judges are in cahoots. Politicians are corrupt. Newspaper and all other reporters are assholes or whores. Is their anyone you like?”, asked Mary.

“I like you”, Wallace answered.

“I'm so lucky. Idiot!”