The Mystery of the Moonlight Murder Read Online Free Page B

ahead of his own. But there were a few folks who didn’t like him because he would never take anything in trade, just money.
    As he stepped off the carriage, his prominent silver hair glinted from below his black formal hat. He had an equallysilver moustache. It twitched slightly as he surveyed the people in front of him with the perfect mix of concern and seriousness. His deep-set blue eyes, although grim as the occasion called for, still contained his trademark twinkle.
    John and Elmer started to run toward him. The slightly crushing hands on their shoulders belonging to their father and mother reminded them to slow their pace to a more dignified brisk walk.
    â€œMr. Wright! We didn’t know you would be here,” called John, with Elmer right on his heels. John and Elmer would often keep the Rawleigh’s man in conversation for as long as the salesman would let them, or, more likely, until their mother told them to quit talking his ear off.
    Mr. Wright smiled warmly as the boys approached. “It’s good to see you boys. I wish it were under different circumstances. That’s what we always say at funerals, isn’t it?”
    â€œWe don’t know,” responded Elmer truthfully. “We’ve never been to one before.”
    Earl patted Elmer and John on their shoulders understandingly as he made the rounds greeting the other adults. When one woman suggested making a purchase from him, he admitted that he didn’t really feel comfortable engaging in sales before Hans Schneider was even buried.
    â€œLet’s meet after he’s buried,” he whispered. Neither the living nor the dead prevented Earl T. Wright from making a sale, and today would be no different.
    After he conveyed his condolences to Gertrude, Earl walked over to where the Diefenbakers were standing and greeted William, Mary, and Ed. He liked the Diefenbakers for many reasons. More than once, Mary Diefenbaker had ordered some of Earl’s home remedies for the cuts and bruises that unavoidably happen during farm life. They weren’t his highest paying customers, but they were good ones. After all, times were tough.
    for travelling salesmen, too. Earl always appreciated how the Diefenbakers exercised hospitality during his travels in their vicinity. The fact that William and Ed were both school teachers was appealing for Earl, too. It gave him a chance to talk about politics and the general state of the world with people who shared those interests.
    â€œI heard how your boys got mixed up in all of this,” said Earl to William and Mary. “I was sure glad to hear that they were alright. I don’t know what’s happening to this place anymore,” he added, shaking his head. “I like the Schneiders. Like them a lot.”
    John and Elmer strained to hear the conversations from the grown-ups.
    â€œThe boys were fortunate, that’s for sure,” agreed William. “We all were, except for Hans.”
    After a somber silence, William continued. “They’ll catch him, you know. They always do.”
    Earl nodded. “You bet they will. Probably some drifter, looking for a few dollars or something to steal.”
    â€œNothing was stolen though, from what we’ve heard,” countered Ed.
    â€œMaybe he didn’t get the chance,” Earl suggested. “With old Hans out there working at night, well, who would have expected that?”
    William looked slightly surprised. “How did you know he
    was outside working?”
    Earl brushed the comment aside. “Oh, heard from someone in Borden. You know how these things get around.”
    William nodded. “Doesn’t take long, does it? Say, Earl, do you happen to know anything about Gabriel Dumont’s nephew being in town? Sergeant English was telling us about him. I never heard of him before.”
    Earl leaned toward the adults, lowering his voice. John and Elmer leaned slightly, too, although they tried not