Cain's Mark

4

"Harlest," Clearance said, "you need to check Stump Hollow first."

"Now, Clearance," I said, "Cephas is fine. I just got back from checking on him. The sheriff got tired of fielding questions as to why Stump hasn't been seen in town lately."

"That ain't what I'm talking about," said Clearance.

"Exactly what are you saying?" I asked, thinking about my wife, Harryetta who had begged me to take her to the Imperial Cinema after work to see Debbie and Kelly.

She loved musicals. She loved those two actors. She loved dancing. A gallon of gas was twenty cents. Here was Clearance sitting there telling me to burn a couple of gallons to go back and see Cephas, when Harryetta wanted me to drive her over to McLankville and the Imperial.

What a mess! 

What a blow to my pocketbook. 

The sheriff never took into account the fact that it was 1952, and each deputy needed a patrol car. Using your own personal vehicles was for the birds in my book. But as the low man on the totem pole, I couldn't complain.

Not if I wanted to still call myself Deputy.

I couldn't keep my mind from drifting back to Harryetta. She just loved Debbie. And she practically swooned when she was talking about Kelly.

Those dance moves of his. Man, I wish I could move like him when I got Harryetta on the dance floor. I can't even waltz without mashing her toes flat.

Got no smooth, she says. But Kelly does. He's better than Fred in Harryetta's book.

"Have you heard a word I've said, Harlest Ambrose?"

"Of course, I have, Clearance," I lied. "Now, just so I make sure I understand perfectly, what is it you want me to do?"

"I want you to investigate Cephas Stump. He has the mark of Cain."

"The mark of Cain?" I asked, vaguely recalling those boyhood Sunday school lessons about a murdered brother and the curse of God.

"I've just sat here for the last thirty minutes telling you that I need you to go out there. If I've told Mooney once, I've told him a thousand times to stay away from Stump Hollow Creek. But you know kids. And Mooney was headed out that way the last time I saw him. I should of called him back, but I was on my way to Lefever's and that farm equipment auction. I was running late, like I said."

"And," I said.

"And that's the last time I saw him. He was supposed to go with his mother at lunch time to Lloyd's to buy some new clothes. The boy's growin' like a weed. But Mooney ain't been seen since first thing this morning. Harlest, I'm afraid my son's gone missing."