This Old Souse Read Online Free Page A

ten to park, and a quarter of an hour to find the right department and the proper records. Judith’s artificial hip was beginning to ache, but she kept her mouth shut. Renie, who was carrying a large, worn binder, would retaliate with complaints about the shoulder that still bothered her even after extensive surgery.
    Fortunately, the cousins found a place to sit down. “You do have the address,” Judith said.
    â€œNo,” Renie admitted. “I’ve never been able to see the house numbers. But since it’s the only residence on that side of Moonfleet, I can’t miss. The houses across the street are in the twenty-one–hundred range, odd numbers. Ah!” In triumph, she looked up from the big binder. “I got it! It’s two-one-oh-eight.”
    Judith scooted her chair around for a closer look. The yellowed page showed the original plat, with a floor plan for the house and the garage. The date was April 11, 1925.
    Renie moved on to the information about ownership. “The house was completed in March of 1926. The builder was somebody named L. R. Engstrom, and the first owners were Preston D. and Eleanor F. Conway, who paid thirty-five hundred dollars for it.” She moved her finger down the page. “They sold the place in 1933 for five thousand dollars. Maybe they couldn’t keep up the payments during the Depression. Anyway, the new owners were Ruben C. and Ellen M. Borbon. Ruben must have passed on by the time it was sold again for seventy-five hundred dollars in 1947 by Mrs. Borbon to…” She paused and took a deep breath. “To Richard L. and Jane C. Bland.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Judith swiftly calculated the years. “They’ve lived there for well over a half century. Goodness, they must be old.”
    â€œFairly old,” Renie amended. “We aren’t spring chickens, either. It’s possible that they bought it as newlyweds. They might be in their early seventies.”
    â€œThat’s not old anymore,” Judith said wistfully. “It used to be, though.”
    Renie stood up. “Let’s go.”
    â€œHome?” Judith asked hopefully.
    â€œNo. Back to Moonfleet Street.”
    Judith did her best to catch up with Renie, who was sprinting toward the elevators. “Why?”
    â€œThat disagreeable neighbor is probably still out to lunch,” Renie said, entering the elevator and pokingthe button for the street level. “I want a better look at the house.”
    â€œCoz—” Judith began in a pleading tone.
    â€œIt’s only two o’clock,” Renie interrupted. “I’ll have you back at the B & B by three. I promise.”
    The elevator doors opened onto the lobby. “Okay,” Judith said with a sigh. “I guess I owe you.”
    â€œYou bet you do,” Renie retorted as they waited for the light to walk across the street to the parking garage. “Besides, this is just a little harmless fun.”
    â€œTrue,” Judith allowed.
    Or maybe not.

TWO
    O N THEIR RETURN trip to Moonfleet, Renie found a parking place across the street from the front of the house. “We can’t see much of anything from here except for that path that goes up from the sidewalk,” she said. “We’ll have to get out and walk.”
    â€œWalk?” Judith responded. “How about carrying me? I’m getting gimpy from all this walking.”
    â€œNonsense,” Renie snapped. “We haven’t walked any farther than you’d do at home, especially going up and down all those stairs. Furthermore, I can’t carry you. My shoulder, remember?”
    The drizzle had stopped, though the sky remained cloudy. As the cousins got out of the car, they saw a postal van pull up at the corner.
    â€œAha!” Renie exclaimed under her breath. “We can interrogate him.”
    â€œWhy not?” Judith said in an indifferent voice. “Maybe I can