Ход королевы

           ***

           Whenshecamehomewithhertrophyandthefirst-prizecheck,shefoundinthepileofmailtwobusinessenvelopes:onewasfromtheUSCFandcontainedacheckforfourhundreddollarsandabriefapologythattheycouldn’tsendmore.ThesecondwasfromChristianCrusade.Ithadathree-pageletterthatspokeoftheneedtopromoteinternationalunderstandingthroughChristianprinciplesandtoannihilateCommunismfortheadvancementofthosesameprinciples.Theword“His”wascapitalizedinawaythatmadeBethuneasy.Theletterwassigned“YoursinChrist”byfourpeople.Foldedupinitwasacheckforfourthousanddollars.Sheheldthecheckinherhandforalongtime.HerprizemoneyatSanFranciscowastwothousand,andshehadtotakehertravelexpensesoutofit.Herbankaccounthadbeendwindlingforthepastsixmonths.ShehadhopedtogetatmosttwothousanddollarsfromthepeopleinTexas.Whatevercrazyideastheymighthave,themoneywasagiftfromheaven.ShecalledBennytotellhimthegoodnews.

           ***

           WhenshecameinfromherWednesdaymorningsquashgamethephonewasringing.Shegotherraincoatoffinahurry,threwitonthesofaandpickedupthephone.Itwasawoman’svoice.“IsthisElizabethHarmon?”

           “Yes.”

           “ThisisHelenDeardorff,atMethuen.”Shewastooastonishedtospeak.“Ihavesomethingtotellyou,Elizabeth.Mr.Shaibeldiedlastnight.Ithoughtyoumightwanttoknow.