"Good Lordy, but she's done it again," says Martha Poindexter to Primrose, the girl next door. "Miss Taylor was seen rushing through town last night, just flat out bawlin' her head off. You'd think she just found out somebody died or somethin', but if that's what it is, nobody's sayin'."
Primrose pauses and her eyebrows lift. "Mr. D'aray, the saloon owner? He's been squiring her around town. You don't think he finally showed his wicked side and broke her heart, do you?"
Martha quickly shakes her head. "No, I don't think Mr. D'aray had anything to do with her cryin'. Leastwise, if he did, he already made up with her." She grins, waiting for Primrose to latch on to what she's saying.
The young Primrose doesn't disappoint. "What do you know? Tell it!"
"Well, I heard from that girl that's been helpin' out around here that stays at the boarding house? I heard that Mr. D'aray paid a visit to Miss Taylor's room last night real late." Martha looks pleased as punch to give out that information.
"And?" asks Primrose. "Well, I don't know," admits Martha. "The girl said he stayed in there for a time, but the only sound she heard was voices and cryin'. If he was in her room, he didn't do anything more improper than spendin' time in there alone. Least that's what the girl said."
Primrose grins, looking thoughtful. "Maybe so..." Martha adds, "And I hear tell the man spent the night in a chair down in the main room of the boarding house after. Hat over his eyes. Makes ya wonder, don't it?"
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