Miss Dimple and the Slightly Bewildered Angel Read Online Free PDF

was on the first floor, across from the kitchen, and she would have had to have been deaf or comatose to sleep through all that racket. “I’m afraid we received some rather distressing news.”
    The two paused beneath the tulip poplar on the corner while Dimple told her of Dora’s appearance and then disappearance on Saturday and the tragic accident the following day on the stairs that led to the steeple. Yellow leaves like tulip blossoms swirled about them and the autumn air was as crisp and sweet as a new apple. It was Dimple’s favorite time of year and she had never outgrown the joy of the holidays that followed. For Dora, there would be no holidays. No joy.
    Listening, Augusta fingered the strand of stones around her neck as the colors changed from amber to green to dark violet. “How sad,” she said. “How very sad.” And then: “Are they sure this was an accident?”
    â€œI’m inclined to believe it wasn’t.” Miss Dimple speared a bit of litter with her umbrella as they crossed the street, then put it into the paper bag she carried for that purpose. “I think she went into the church looking for a sheltered place to sleep and someone frightened her into seeking safety in the bell tower.”
    â€œHow long had she been there when they found her?” Augusta asked.
    â€œDoctor Morrison thinks it must have happened sometime last night. She left our place at a little after five on Saturday, and I imagine she wandered around a bit before settling on the church as a safe place to spend the night.”
    â€œIt appears she was running from someone,” Augusta said. “I wonder who or why.”
    â€œHave the authorities been able to find out anything about her background?” she asked.
    â€œUnfortunately, no. I remember her having a rather large paper bag when she came with us to Phoebe’s, and I assumed it held the belongings she had with her, and possibly some identification, but Chief Tinsley said they had found no sign of it.”
    â€œThen someone must have taken it.” Augusta frowned. “It sounds as if they were looking for something.”
    Dimple nodded. “I wonder if they found it.”
    Augusta shook her head and frowned. “I’m afraid this is not what I expected. I wish I knew…”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Dimple asked. “Knew what?”
    But Augusta either didn’t hear her question or chose to ignore it. “I suppose I’d better get back and put those biscuits in the oven,” she said as they circled the small business district and turned left onto Myrtle Street. “Have you ever noticed,” she said, looking about, “how these willow oaks hold on to their leaves long after others have fallen?”
    Miss Dimple nodded. “True, but I believe these are water oaks.”
    Augusta’s necklace jangled as she walked a little faster. “Really? Are you sure?”
    Having been born and bred in the Georgia countryside, Dimple Kilpatrick was as sure as she knew the sun rose in the east and set in the west, but she didn’t dispute the matter. “I believe there’s a reference book on that subject in the bookcase by the stairs,” she said. “We can look when we get back.”
    She might not be able to stir up waffles or decorate a room at the wink of an eye, but she knew a water oak when she saw one! And Dimple Kilpatrick picked up her pace. Just who was this stranger who seemed to have landed on their doorstep?
    *   *   *
    â€œAny more word about what happened to Dora?” Dimple asked, leaving her umbrella in the stand by the door.
    Phoebe put a pitcher of orange juice on the sideboard and searched in the drawer for spoons. “Not yet,” she said. “I do hope they’ll be able to find out who she is and why she came here. Odessa phoned this morning, all upset about Bob Robert finding that woman like