Read Online The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes - Free Book Online Page A

us. That is why we want it.”
        Arthur was literal. “If it’s something belongs to you I don’t see why you don’t just ask Con for it instead of searching his things and that sort of stuff. Con wouldn’t keep something that didn’t belong to him. Would he, Griselda?”
        She said no, then she smiled half at David, half at Arthur. “Maybe it’s one of those Finders Keepers things. Maybe it did belong to the twins and now it belongs to Con.”
        David’s eyes were glittery. “Maybe,” he admitted. But Danny was angry, hiding it but angry. “You’re wrong, Griselda. We came by the marble honestly.”
        David laughed now. “Yes, we traded a cabin plane, two-seater, perfectly good except petrol-less and a broken wheel, for it.”
        They had Arthur on their side again. “Must be a pretty valuable curio to you.”
        “It is-to us.”
        Griselda baited, “To no one else?”
        David shrugged, “I do not know why it should be to anyone else.”
        She said, “Then Con wouldn’t want it. He probably doesn’t even know he has it.” Her eyes narrowed, “Why is it so valuable to you?”
        Missy broke in, “What does it matter? It isn’t yours. Why don’t you give it to us?”
        Griselda asked blandly, “How do you come into it, Missy?”
        The girl was furious. Dan put his fingers about her upper arm. David smiled, “Missy is our petite amie.” Danny said, “She is one-third of us.”
        Missy started to say something but she didn’t have a chance.
        Someone shrieked in a too British accent “Griselda, my dear! Griselda Satterlee!” She bent over Griselda, leaving her young man posing foolishly alone. It was Nesta Fahney, not on the screen, in person, but with the double length eyelashes, the crimson mouth, the porcelain teeth, the daring cream lace gown embroidered in real gardenias. “But, Griselda, this is too fortunate. I didn’t know where you were and you must dress me! I’m going to London next week and I must be dressed!”
        Griselda told her, “I’ve no one here to work for me.”
        “But darling, your taste! You must shop with me.”
        Griselda introduced, “My sister, Mrs. Stepney, Mr. Stepney, Miss Fahney.” She remembered Missy was a sister, too. “And my younger sister, Miss Cameron, Miss Fahney. The Messrs. Montefierrow.”
        She knew now. Nesta had come over to meet the twins, not to be dressed. But she would probably insist on that too. She turned in her chair, “Hello, Jasper.” She introduced the beautiful hero, “Jasper Coldwater.”
        Arthur was heavy with delight. “You must join us, Miss Fahney.” He gave up his chair, beckoned for more. Ann smiled her best at Jasper. The other three didn’t know the idols of the American screen. They didn’t care for the interruption but the twins were polite and Missy finally stared at Jasper. Nesta sat by Arthur but she batted eyelashes at the twins.
        ”You will shop with me, Griselda? I haven’t a stitch. And for London…”
        Danny was charming. “London isn’t particular in these times, Miss Fahney.” He didn’t pronounce her name just right. He stood, “This is my dance, Griselda.”
        She didn’t want to. She was sewed to her chair. But he came over, offered his arm and Nesta’s eyes sighed.
        They danced. He said, “Why did you tell those people of the marble? It would be better if they were out of it. Too many are in it now. What did you say of last night?”
        “Nothing,” she answered truthfully. “But I will tell you something. Mr. Grain, the man you murdered, always wore a lucky coin on his watch chain. My maid found it under my couch this morning.”
        He didn’t speak but she could feel his muscles twitch. She repeated all that she had told David.
        Finally he said, “You need not worry about this. If you keep quiet you