Page:The Post-Mortem Murder by Sinclair Lewis.djvu/1

The Century Magazine MAY, 1921 No. 1 The Post-Mortem Murder By SINCLAIR LEWIS Author of "Main Street" Illustration byR. F. Heinrkh WENT to Kenmiit to be quiet through the summer vacation. I was tired after my first year as associate professor, and I had to finish my "Life of Ben Jonson." Certainly the last thing I desired was that dying man in the hot room and the pile of scrawled booklets* I hoarded with Mrs, Nickerson in a cottage of silver-gray shingles under silver-gray poplars, heard only the harsh fiddling of locusts and the dis- tant rage of the surf, looked out on a yard of bright wild grass and a jolly windmill weather-vane, and made notes about Ben Jonson. I was as secluded and happy as old Thoreau raising beans and feeling superior at Walden. My fiancee, — Quinta Gates, sister of Professor Gates, and lovelier than ever in the delicate culture she had at- tained at thirty-seven,— Quinta urged me to join them at Fleet Harbor, It is agreeable to be with Quinta. While I cannot say that we are stirred to such absurd manifestations as kissing and hand-holding,— why any sensible person should care to hold a damp female hand is beyond me,— we do find each other inspiriting. But Fleet Harbor would be full of "summerites," dreadful young people in white flan- nels, singing their jazz ballads. No, at thought of my spacious, leafy freedom I wriggled with luxury and settled down to an absorbed period when night and day glided into one ecstasy of dreaming study. Naturally, then, I was angry when I heard a puck- ery voice outside in the tiny hallway : "Well, if he 's a professor, I got to see him." A knock. I affected to ignore it. It was irritatingly repeated until I roared, "Well, well, well?" I am nor- mally, I trust, a gentle person, hut I desired to give them the impression of annoyance. Mrs, Nickerson billowed in, squeak- ing: "Mis' White from Lobster Pot Neck wants to see you." Past her wriggled a pinch-faced, humorless-looking woman. She glared at Mrs. Nickerson, thrust her out, and shut the door. I could hear Mrs. Nickerson protesting, "Well, upon my word!" I believe I rose and did the usual civilities. I remember this woman, Miss or Mrs. White, immediately ask- Copyright, 1923. by The Ckntchy Co. All ri«bts rusorved. i