Love for Sale

still had enough meat loaf, bread, and late-season spinach for a dinner, and that’s all she needed until Monday, when the greengrocer was in his shop.
    Lily, Robert, and Phoebe all retreated to late-afternoon naps. Only Mr. Prinney had too much on his mind to rest. He was still in his office at home, making notes of what could or might be done about Mary Towerton’s husband. Some of his suggestions to himself were absurd. Especially the one about taking the train out to Hoover Dam to sort through the mix-up. He felt certain that her husband was, indeed, dead and the telegram was simply a spelling error. Otherwise, how would the people in Arizona have known her address? Still, he had to have proof for her.
    He’d taken a liking to Mrs. Towerton. He felt unusually fatherly toward her. He admired her for finding a job niche that was exclusive to her talents. He also feared that it was possible that they’d never figure out whether she was wife or widow. And he hated failing anyone.
    He was interrupted by Jack Summer calling on him just before dinnertime.
    “Somebody in town told me they’d seen Mrs. Towerton coming up the road with her cart to Grace and Favor. Was she here to see you?“ Jack asked.
    “You know perfectly well I can’t tell you that.“
    “I do know. But I care about her. We shared an awful experience last summer at the Bonus March in Washington. We were together in the thick of the violence, and while we were escaping, her grandfather died in the back of her wagon. I’m concerned about her welfare. If she’s in some kind of trouble, I’d like to help if I could.”
    Mr. Prinney thought for a long moment. “There is something you might be able to tell me. Could you find out through your sources how many men are working on that dam out west? All I know about the project is that there are rumors that the powers that be are disguising accidents as illnesses, and I don’t even know if that’s true.“
    “Hoover Dam? I’ll see if I can find out. I’ve saved all the New York Times articles and things from other newspapers for reference. I think I saw several articles about it. I noticed because Mrs. Towerton’s husband is presumably working there. I’ll copy everything I can find. I don’t suppose you could tell me anything about Brother Goodheart’s death? That’s going to be a big local interest and national as well.“
    “I’ve deliberately avoided knowing much about it. You’ll have to talk to Chief Walker.”
    “He’s clammed up on me,“ Jack said.
    “As well he should,“ Mr. Prinney said.

    First thing Monday morning, most of the people at Grace and Favor scattered. Lily went to the grade school. Mr. Prinney took the photograph of Mary Towerton and her husband to Poughkeepsie. Mrs. Prinney stocked up on food. Phoebe delivered three altered dresses to customers. Robert headed for the library, ostensibly to get more books about games for the children, but really trying, and failing, to screw up his courage to invite Miss Exley to the films.
    Jack Summer put out a special edition of the newspaper citing what little he knew about Brother Goodheart’s death. It was only a single page, but he made sure it went to every other newspaper and wire service he could think of.
    Howard Walker was out of town as well. He went to the asylum to conduct more interviews with his primary suspects. He’d seen the building a number of times, but not up close. It was the ugliest structure he’d ever seen. And it smelled horrific inside. The odors of stale food, urine, and despair permeated it. And the screams and cries he heard at every turn would haunt him for years.
    He came away depressed and discouraged. Nobody would admit to any further knowledge. Nearly the only thing he accomplished was to ask Edward Price if anyone else took notes of the meeting.
    “Nobby’s next thing to illiterate and Kinsey wouldn’t dream of putting anything on paper that someone else might read,“ Price said.
    “Didn’t Pottinger have written material ready? Didn’t he jot down people’s ideas for dealing with Big Jimmy Rennie?“
    “Not that I ever saw,“ Price said.
    “One more question,“ Walker said. “In Pottinger ‘s belongings, there was a wad of money and a note saying it was for the end of the meeting. Did that mean a payoff for you and the others figuring out how to get Rennie in hot water, or was it for the Brewsters?”
    Price almost laughed. “We were required to sort out about Rennie