Joe knew just about what Green Valley was thinking and saying. From
where he stood he could see what a part of Green Valley was doing. For
this early in the evening Green Valley never pulled down its shades.
So when the lights flared out in the Wendells' west front up-stairs
window Joe saw Mrs. Wendell go to the clothes closet and bring out
various newspaper parcels. Joe knew very well that those parcels
contained furs.
Furs and ferns were Mildred Wendell's two passions. She had furs of
all sizes and colors and weights, beginning with the little muff and
tippet her favorite aunt had given her long ago when she was only five
to the really beautiful and expensive set her son, Charlie, had given
her for her last birthday. As for ferns, she had so many that Green
Valley always went to her for its wedding and funeral decorations. And
she was only too happy to lend her collection of feathery beauty.
From where he stood on his doorstep Joe could look down three streets
and see Green Valley in its shirt sleeves and slippers and its gingham
apron, so to speak. He could look over the white sash curtains right
into Mert Hagley's kitchen for Mert lived behind his store. Joe saw
Mary, Mert's wife, turning the pages of the evening paper and studying
the advertisements.
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