The Forgotten Door Read Online Free PDF

ugliest dresses in the community. Still, I wouldn’t hurt her feelings by telling her how ugly they are. I usually think of something nice to say about them.”
    Little Jon was puzzled. “But that’s not right. How can she learn? It’s wrong to make things ugly. Why, if she’s wrong, should her feelings —”
    â€œOh, Jon! I don’t understand you!” She shook her head. “Listen, dear. To avoid trouble, I’m afraid you’ll have to be Jimmy O’Connor’s boy — until we can find out more about you. I don’t dare tell the Johnsons, or the Pitts, or some other people, that — that you’re a strange boy from nowhere, who has curious clothes that won’t tear, and curious ideas that don’t fit, who has never seen money or cars before, and who can talk to—” She stopped, and again he was aware of the flicker of fright in her mind.
    Quietly she said, “Let’s go out and see if Rascal really is thirsty.”
    Rascal was a huge brown mongrel, with a wide head and heavy jaws. He snarled as they approached the enclosure, and lunged to the end of his chain. The iron pan that held water was empty. Mary Bean frowned at the pan. She turned on the hose and filled it from a safe distance. Rascal quieted and drank greedily.
    â€œHow you ever knew about that pan—” she began. “Anyway, I’d better warn you about Rascal. Thomas is always picking up stray dogs and trying to train them — but this creature was a mistake. He won’t let anyone but Thomas go near him. We’ve got to get rid of him. If he ever broke that chain …”
    â€œHe — he won’t hurt you.”
    â€œI happen to know better. He’s as vicious as they come, and even Thomas — No! Don’t open that gate! ”
    He hardly heard her, for he had slipped quickly through the gate and all his attention was on Rascal. He held out his hands, and the big dog came over to him, uncertain, then whining in sudden eagerness, trembling. As he spoke silently he could feel the blackness and the lostness fade away from the brooding creature that now sprang happily upon him.
    Thomas Bean, returning, glimpsed the two from the foot of the lane. He sent the truck roaring up to the house and jumped out, calling, “Hey, you crazy kid! Get out of there before —”
    His voice died with recognition. Shaken, he limped over to Mary, followed by Brooks and Sally. “Didn’t know him with a haircut and those clothes,” he muttered. “Lord preserve me, how did he ever make up to Rascal?”
    â€œI’ll try to tell you later,” she whispered, “but you won’t believe it. Incidentally, I’ve decided that he’s Jimmy O’Connor’s boy. We — we’ve got to explain him somehow.”
    Thomas nodded slowly. “Jimmy O’Connor is a good choice. Be hard for anyone to check up on it.”
    â€œDid you learn anything at church?”
    â€œNot a thing. I was surprised to see Gilby and Emma there. They don’t belong to our church.”
    â€œThey must have come with the Macklins — they’re related, you know.”
    â€œWell, the Macklins were all there. They sang as loud as anybody — and they looked well fed on Bean hams.”
    â€œThomas! You don’t actually know that they stole our hams last fall.”
    â€œNo, I certainly couldn’t prove it. Anyway, I drove through town afterward, listened around a bit, and got all the papers I could find. Atlanta Journal, Asheville Times, and a couple others. There’s bound to be something in one of them about a lost boy.”
    â€œWant to make a bet on it?”
    â€œBut, Mary, he had to come from somewhere! ”
    Little Jon called from the enclosure, “Please, may — may I take Rascal out? He — he hates the chain.”
    â€œWhy, say, you’re getting your voice back!” Thomas