In all her dun-coloured life Jan-an had never seen anything so wonderful as the girl on the doorstep. She was not at all sure but that she was one of Noreen’s fiction creatures. There was a story that Northrup had told Noreen about Eve’s Other Children, and for an instant Jan-an estimated the likelihood of the stranger being one––she wasn’t altogether wrong, either!
“What you want?” she asked cautiously. Jan-an was, as she put it, “all skew-y,” for the work of the evening before had brought her to a more confused state than usual.
The world was widening––she included Northrup now in her circle of protection and she wasn’t sure what Eve’s Other Children were capable of doing.
“I want to find out the way to the inn, Heathcote Inn.” Kathryn smiled alluringly.
“Why don’t you look at the sign?” There was witchery about that sign, certainly.
“I did not see the sign. Please excuse me.” Then, “Do 186 you happen to know if there is a Mr. Northrup at the inn?”
“He sleeps there!” Jan-an looked stupid but honest. “Days, he takes to the woods.”
Jan-an meant, as soon as the unearthly visitor departed, to find Northrup and give the alarm. Kathryn thanked the girl sweetly and returned to her car. As she did so she saw the sign-board as Northrup had before her, and felt a bit foolish, but she also recalled that Northrup might be in the woods!
“You may go on to the inn,” she said to her man, “and make arrangements. I am going to remain over night and start back early to-morrow morning. Explain that I am walking and will be there shortly.”
The quiet man at the door of the car touched his cap and took his place at the wheel.