Chapter 8

“Good morning, Miss Maple,” he said.

“Back to do some more research?”

“Yes, ma’am, and I brought my laptop with me, and a portable scanner so I can scan some of the pictures into my computer.”

“Feel free to help yourself,” she said, and handed him the same folders he’d looked at on his previous visit.

He thanked her, went to the same table he’d used before, and set up his equipment. Sometime later, his concentration was broken when someone coughed discreetly behind his chair. Startled, he turned, and spotted Miss Maple and another woman who looked to be in late middle age standing behind him.

“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Perry,” Miss Maple said, “but I wanted to introduce you to the president of the Historical Society. This is Mrs. James Pendergrass, Mr. Perry.”

“Please call me Alice,” the woman said as she held out her hand. “I can’t tell you how pleased the society is to learn that our county’s most famous landmark will be restored to its former glory.”