Land Sakes Read Online Free

had to go through several pockets again before I found it. Satisfied that I had everything, I closed my pocketbook and sat there holding it on my lap with both hands and trying not to fidget.
    One of the girls hollered, “Here she comes!” A vehicle was turning in the driveway.
    â€œLooks like a limo,” somebody said.
    It was long, I tell you. Longer than a hearse! “What kind of a car is that?”
    â€œIt’s a Rolls,” Barbara told me. “A Rolls-Royce. A touring car.”
    â€œWell, why didn’t you tell me her car was a Rolls-Royce?”
    She grinned. “I was afraid you wouldn’t take the job.”
    There was a man in a uniform behind the wheel and a ugly-looking dog on the seat beside him. The driver looked straight ahead and did not so much as glance our way as he drove around back. The girls picked up my luggage and piled off the porch, leaving me to bring up the rear.
    I did not like the looks of this—this blue, streamlined automobile and a dog on the front seat! It gave me second thoughts. Can I handle this ?
    The chauffeur was standing straight as a poker at the rear of the car, ready to load my two bags. Although he was skinny, his uniform fit. If it had been khaki, he could have passed for a World War I private. With a long nose, a neat little mustache tucked under it, and a chauffeur’s cap and black kid gloves, he looked like something out of a Hollywood movie.
    Where’s Mrs. Winchester ? I wondered. Then I saw her deep inside the backseat, nearly hid; on the other side of her was another one of them ugly mutts staring straight ahead.
    I grabbed Barbara’s arm. “Now, see here, Barbara, if you think I’m gonna ride in that car with two big dogs all the way to Alaska, you’ve got another thing coming!”
    â€œThey won’t hurt you, Miss E. They’re guard dogs—Afghan hounds.”
    â€œThat figures—they’re terrorists!”
    She laughed. “No. Mother won’t have bodyguards, so the dogs are the next best thing.”
    â€œNow see here, Barbara—”
    â€œPercival, this is Miss Esmeralda McAbee. Take good care of her.”
    The chauffeur stiffened, tipped his cap, and held his nose in the air. “Good morning, madam.” Plainly, he thought he was too good for the likes of me. Well, nobody can snub me and get away with it. He opened the door for me to get in, but I let him stand there waiting while I took my time hugging each of the girls and saying my good-byes. I wasn’t done when here came Albert’s station wagon down the drive. He parked in back of the Rolls and got out wearing that pin-striped suit he wearswhen he’s going to fly from Greensboro to New York for a board meeting or something. “I see you’re ready to go,” he said to me.
    â€œYes, I guess.”
    Barbara introduced him to Percival, and that nozzle nose did not hesitate to reach out and shake hands with Albert. Seeing I wasn’t ready to get in the car, he shut the backseat door and began showing off the Rolls to Albert.
    â€œIs this the Silver Spur model?” Albert asked him.
    â€œSir, this is the Mulliner Park Ward Touring Limousine.” Nozzle Nose was so proud he could have split his britches. “This motorcar is two feet longer than the Silver Spur II.” They walked around to the front to look at the fancy grill. On the top was the figure of a shapely woman with wings in skin-tight drapery. “The flying lady,” he said, “distinguishes the Rolls-Royce as the finest motorcar in the world.”
    Albert nodded. “I’ve known several maestros who own the Rolls, and I must say the ride is superb.”
    â€œThis model, sir, is the product of the world’s finest craftsmen. The coach builders of Mulliner Park Ward required fourteen months to sculpt the metal and wood that went into this luxurious motorcar.”
    He opened the door on the driver’s