Anything Goes

tried to outdo each other in courtesy by hanging back. Finally, it was Jonathan Winslow who said with unusual charm, “As much as we’re admiring the sight and delightful smell of this food Mrs. Prinney has prepared so skillfully, I’m starving, so I’ll go first.”
    There was a sudden rush for plates and silverware.
     
    When everybody but Chief Henderson had finished eating, and the plates had been cleared away, Lily rose and stood at one end of the room. “I’d like to welcome our guests tonight. My brother and I hope that all but one of you will visit us again.”
    Her hands were trembling so badly she had to hold them behind her back.
    Several people laughed nervously at what they assumed was meant as a compliment that had accidentally turned into a tactless remark.
    Lily went on, “I have something to tell all of you. Something our uncle intended to say to some of you on the tragic boat trip and never got to reveal.”
    She glanced around the room. Most of the faces were merely interested. One looked alarmed.
    Clearing her throat, Lily went on in a shaky voice. “I wouldn’t have figured this out except that I learned that Sissy Winslow stole ten dollars from my purse last week.”
    Sissy made a little shrieking noise and buried her face in her hands.
    “Which,“ Lily continued, “is how Mr. Prinney and I came to realize that Jonathan Winslow murdered Horatio Brewster and Billy Smith.”
     

Chapter 26
     
    Sensation!
    For a long moment, everyone in the room fell silent and stared at Lily.
    Jonathan Winslow broke the spell by rising suddenly and saying, “What utter rot! Prinney, has this young woman gone entirely mad? Dr. Polhemus, I recommend that you immediately remove her to an insane asylum. I’ll be bringing charges of public slander, of course.“
    “Let’s hear her out,“ Dr. Polhemus said with remarkable calm.
    Robert came over and put his arm around Lily’s waist for support. “Go on, Lily.”
    Chief Henderson’s eyes were bugged out and he finally put his plate down and wiped his mouth on his jacket sleeve. Jack had pulled a notebook from the pocket of his jacket and was scribbling madly.
    “When I learned that Sissy had stolen a ten-dollar bill from me—you can talk to the butcher in town to find out how I know this—I thought she was just a common thief, or stealing for the thrill of getting away with it,“ Lily said. “But after a few moments, I realized that was quite wrong. She stole the money because she needed it. The Winslow family needed it.“
    “What nonsense!“ Jonathan Winslow snapped. He’d sat back down and was absently patting Sissy on the shoulder as she continued to sob. Mrs. Winslow was looking as though someone had slapped her in the face hard enough to addle her wits.
    “Take the girl away, Polhemus,“ Winslow shouted. “And you take down every word she’s said, Summer. I want it on the record.”
    Chief Henderson moved around behind Winslow and put a beefy hand on his shoulder. “I do, too. And I want to hear the rest.”
    Winslow shook off Henderson’s hand and said sharply to Sissy, “Stop that damned sniffling.”
    Robert gave Lily’s waist a squeeze, urging her to continue.
    “Major Winslow told us that they’d let their staff go because it wasn’t decent to act rich when so many people were poor. Robert and I found that a distasteful remark, considering that Major Winslow himself had contributed to the general unemployment, but we didn’t question at the time that he might have fired them because he couldn’t afford to pay them and his pride wouldn’t let him admit it.“
    “This is ridiculous!“ Winslow exclaimed. “We’re not going to stay and listen to any more of this. And in front of my wife and daughter. Shame on you, you stupid girl.”
    Lily ignored him. “There was more. Much more. And I still can’t believe we didn’t see it at first. Major Winslow claimed that his wife and daughter were enjoying learning to cook and clean and take care of the house themselves. But that obviously wasn’t true. They prepared an inedible dinner and looked as miserable as the guests. Robert and I later saw Sissy sitting in the yard attempting to mend something, and making a hash of it. Major Winslow accused my dog of killing his doves, implying that he was raising them as a hobby, when in fact, I think they were being raised to be eaten to save money on food.“
    “This is all speculation, isn’t it?“ Jack Summer put in with a