Anything Goes

when it’s not interesting besides, well—“
    “Does Jack Summer know this? About the legal ownership, I mean?“
    “I hope not. It’s none of his business or anyone else’s in town. Horatio didn’t want to be known as the owner of the paper. He was worried that people would think he was using his power and money to his own purposes. He preferred to keep behind the scenes in many of his financial dealings. And in this case, he simply felt that the community needed and deserved a good twice-a-week paper to keep them informed. Had he not purchased the paper, it would have ceased to exist.“
    “The previous owner would have abandoned his investment?”
    Prinney nodded. “As I said, he was fortunate enough to get a very good job elsewhere.”
    “So the paper is really losing money?“ Lily asked.
    “A great deal, I’m afraid. The paper, ink and typesetting are still expensive. There’s Mr. Kessler’s salary, Jack Summer’s salary and three delivery boys, one of whom only has seventeen subscriptions left on his route. It’s making about half what it costs to produce.“
    “What do you propose to do with it?“ Lily said.
    “I was rather hoping you might have a suggestion, since you have a concern with this, too.“
    “Me? I wouldn’t have any idea. This Mr. Kessler...“ Lily thought for a moment. “Is Kessler a man capable of murder?“
    “I shouldn’t think so, Lily—er, Miss Brewster.”
    “I’d rather you’d call me Lily.“
    “Very well. I think the only person I’ve met in my life that I believed to be capable of killing another person for gain was Billy Smith. And he’s the one who was killed. In my profession you get to know greedy people and selfish ones who don’t mind who gets hurt or financially embarrassed, but in my experience normal human beings simply don’t murder each other for reasons other than war or self-defense.“
    “Did Mr. Kessler know that Uncle Horatio was unhappy about the situation?“
    “I’m certain he did. Your uncle didn’t mince words. He was a private man, but not a shy one.”
    Lily pondered for a moment, pleating the folds of her skirt between her fingers. “Suppose...“ she said, “that what Uncle Horatio intended to tell the group aboard the boat was that he was firing Mr. Kessler and wanted the others to help him find a good editor?”
    Mr. Prinney shook his head. “No, he wouldn’t have needed a witness for that, and he said that was his purpose in inviting me along.“
    “That’s right. I’d forgotten for a moment. But Mr. Kessler wouldn’t have known that. Imagine if he’d feared that was going to happen and couldn’t face the humiliation? Could he have killed Uncle to keep from being fired? In hopes that the heir or heirs wouldn’t know for a while how awful the paper was and he could find another job?”
    Mr. Prinney cocked an eyebrow. “The possibility seems rather remote.“
    “I guess so. Is there any way of helping him find another job instead of just leaving another person without work?“
    “I don’t know. The only thing he’s good at is that whittling he does. Not much market for that, you know.“
    “Whittling?“ Lily almost laughed.
    “Does these little wooden figures. Animals and children and such. Clever, really. They just look like lumps of wood at first glance. Real rough. But you look again and it’s like a figure sort of jumps out of the wood. Quite startling. Mrs. Prinney likes them and he’s given her a few.“
    “Oh, I know what you mean. She has some on the kitchen windowsill. They are quite wonderful. I appreciate your having been so frank with me about the men on the boat with Uncle Horatio.“
    “It’s probably useless information. But eventually you may have to have dealings with some of them. Your cousin, perhaps, and certainly Mr. Kessler. It might help you to know in advance what sort of people you’re dealing with. In fact, Fred Eggers, the seasick man who was Horatio’s stockbroker until Horatio pulled out of the market, has been nagging me with notes every week asking if he could come up here and talk to you and your brother about investments. He probably has no idea of the conditions of the will and sees you two as impressionable young people who would be happy for his advice.“
    “I’m happy for your advice,“ Lily said, “and need no more at this point.“ She stood, almost stepping on the dog, who had been sleeping quietly at her feet. “Thank you again for your