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invalid She didn't eat well and what she ate, she often didn't keep down Her usual rosy complexion evaporated and didn't return until toward the end of the week, which was just in time for what she had planned On Saturday, three boys frohschool class arrived at the house after lunch to visit her They brought flowers and candy Car room where Mother, Daddy and I were

"There are three young men here to see Belinda," she announced with little e "Yes, sir"

"Boys?"

"Yes, Mr Gordon"

Daddy shifted his gaze to me and I frowned "That's very nice," Mother declared She smiled

h I continued to scowl

"Show them in," Daddy declared and stiffened

up the way he usually did for a businesshe

anticipated would be difficult He had a way of bringing up his shoulders and lowering his neck until he resembled a bird of prey Daddy was barrelchested, stout and very inti when he swelled

up and put a glint of steel in his eyes

I knew each of the boys Carmelita showed in

They had all been here to take Belinda on a date at

one time or another this year There was Arnold

Miller, who had been my prime suspect only because

Belinda had spent so much time with him recently He