IRA LEVIN A Kiss Before Dying i Retold by FH, CornishPounding Zor Joba Mile ‘The Macrillan Readers provide choice of enjoyable reading mae learners of Egluh The sees pueda se levels Starter, Begone, Elemestary, Fresntermaiiate, Inermedite sed Upper Level contd Teformaton, sructre std voeablay are contol to wi the student ably a each evel “The numberof wade at etch level Sa oc 900 ae wo Beganes OU bake werd Element [sto 100 bac wo Preinzermeiane [about 400 ba word ocenmedae abou 100 bic wed [Upper Iau 220 se word Voeabuley Some difcale words and phases a his book ae ingoctant for Uundentanding the aor. Some of thes wore ae explained inthe ory and some ae shown inthe pleares. Frm Pe-ntermedate level pate wes are athe eth a urbe ke hi These ssonlare explained in she Glosary a the end ofthe bok Contents ANote About Tis Story PART ONE: DOROTHY 1 The Room Near the Campus 2 The Pharmacy Laboratory 3 The Note 4 The Municipal Building PART TWO: ELLEN 1 On the Tisin 2 The Two Blonds 3 The Detective 4 On the Roof PART THREE: MARION 1 New York City 2 Gordon Gane 3 The Smelting Works Poins for Understanding GloryA Note About This Story {ea Levin was born in New York City on August 27¢h, 1929. While he was a student at Drake University, then at New ‘York University, he weote plays for television. After univer: sity, Levin spent ewo years in the US. Army, where he weote scripts fr amy training films ‘Afr he lef the army, Levin began to write theater plays and alo shor stories. Many of his stores were published in wellknown magaines. ‘A Kis Before Dying was Ira Levin’ fst novel Ie was pub- lished in 1954 and ie made him famous. The hock won the aga Allen Poe Award. Since then, Levin has continued to write eime and horror sores, “Two films have been made of A Kise Before Dying (in 1956 and 1997), and several of Levin's other stories have been rade into famous ime too. These include Rosemary's Baby, ‘The Stepford Wives, The Boys fram Bra nd Sher. ‘Some ofthe characters inthis tory are university students ‘Most seadent at American universities study for fur yore ‘Stoddard University, in this tory, ra very bigcollege. There are many different buildings on is large area of land, or eampus. Some of the buildings contain lecture roms, where the students are taught by lecturers. Some buildings are Laboratories, where the science seudents do experiment. Some of the students live on the campus. These students have rooms in dormitories. The most important teachers in the tniversity are called professor. PART ONE: DOROTHY The Room Near the Campus April 1950 Nistrscanine te own ol Rives in snes ‘of ows. Te-was neatly dark in the small room near the Stoddard [Universicy campus. The two people in the room that Sunday ‘evening were borh second-year students at the college. They ‘vere looking at each other in silence “The handsome young man was angry. His plans had been worcng 20 well. And now this news bad come! But he ‘wasn gong to show his anger—chae wouldnt help him. He sralked tothe window, nd fr afew seconds, he looked out fc the lights ofthe sown, He locked atthe yellow lights in the streets, He looked at the red light on top of the ‘Municipal Building, che tower which was the tallest building Jn Blue River, a mile or two away. Then he turned, and be smiled atthe young woman siting on the be. "Ae you sve that you're pregnant?” he asked her genly “Ae you realy sure that you're going to havea baby? "Yes, 'm sre,” she replied. "The doctor tld me that I'm ro months pregnant." She started to ery. ‘What will we do? Can we get marvied son! "Don't ry” the young man sid. “Everything will be OK." He smiled again, ‘The young woman stopped crying and she tried to smileThe Room Neath Campus 0h, lec ge marred ght away” she said“ sre eat iy father will ike you when he meets you. Well be 30 happy!” “Well, we could get marred immediately,” the young man sald, “Butts ig't whac 4 planned, Docothy-—you know that Td planned co meet your father in New Yorkin the sammer atthe end ofthe college year. I anced toa hin fo permission to mty® you then Lwant your father t0 like me, Doroth,” he went on quickly “If we'ee already marred when I meet him, he'll ‘ues che reason. He'll guess about your pregnancy. He won't ke char, he'l be angry. Hel stp sving you money. Well be poor. Pit have to leave college and ger ajo ina storel And you'll have to leave college to take care of the baby. We'll have olive ina taller. How will you feel about thas? How will you family fel abou ie" “Clove you," dhe young woman replied micrably“ dont ‘ate about being poor I don’ care about ny family. We'll be happy—I'm sute about chat! And T don't believe chat my father willbe angry. Anyway, we don’ have any choice 'm pregnant! We'll have to get martied soon.” “The handsome young man walked over to Dorothy and put his ams around hee. Tonight he had to pretend ro love het, "Wedd have a choice," he sid. "What do you mean” the young woman whispered ner. ously “Tlenow someone who can help ws," he replied. "You dont have tobe pregnant, Dorothy. "The young woman pushed him away fom her You want me to have an abortion!” she sid angrily. ‘And she started to ery again. “owe you," the young woman repli miserably. "I don ‘about being poor. I don care abou: my fly.‘The Room Near the Compas the young man said. “I do love you, roth You know that But | don’ want to destroy your life. Yous fail it rch. You don't know about being poor. But I know abou i. You would hate i! Listen! I want to mary you ext summit, wich you father permission. Then he'll oon. tiving you money. Well ent litte houte nese dhe campus Twill be wonderful But you musta’ have this baby!" “I won't have an abortion” Dorothy shouted “You won't need an operation,” the young man replied quietly. "You'll only have to take some pills. Lean get ther froma guy in one of my classes. Hisuncle owns a deugsor', Ire in Blue River” He beld che unhappy young woman in hi arms again. For the nexe hour, he whispered in her ear. He told her many things that she wanted to hear. At last, he looked at his wath, "You must go back to your dormitory,” he said. “e's near- Iyten o'clock meet you tomorrow evening, under the ree outside the Pharmacy Laboratory [ll meet you at eight clock. bring che pills chen." ‘When his girlfriend had gone, the handsome young man pat hi hands over his face "Oh, Gea!” he said desperetely, He'd planned everything so carefully! Buche'd been care less about one ching. He'd only made love with!® Dorothy ‘once. He'd had to make her believe that he loved her. But Ihe'd been careles. And now she was pregnant “Tcan't marry her if she's pregnant!” he told inwelf “1 vill not live ina trailer with Dorothy snd a baby.” ‘The young man was desperate because he wanted to marry ‘The Room Nea the Cant Dorothy Kingship He wanted to marry her because he wat rich. He wanted to marry het becaase het father wat the Cnet of Kingrhip Copper Incorporated. When the young ‘man had found out that a young woman in hs Economies tnd Pilsophy!" cases war one of Leo Kinship’ daughter, isle had changed. He ad begun co chink ofan exiting future for binsel He had thought ofa fare with lot of smenes, a beaul house, and a god job with Kinships big, success company. ‘Soon after meeting Dorothy, he bad writen othe offices of Kingihip Capper and asked fer some information about the comgany. The Kinghip offices im New York Cy bad scot him some brochures! He kepe them athe bowom of Seamer in his desk. Ever night he took the brochures out and he ead them. very night he looked atthe photos the iret Kinphip smelting wok! in lini, and he read about hhow much money the compony had earned inthe lat year “The handsome young man wanted a good fue very snuch. His ely fe had not been ea He ad been born in the lle town of Menast, near Fall Rive, Masachusec He was an only childhe had no brothers of sister, His parents had been poor His mother had hated her send rca he had never hada good job. Heron had become the mos impocane thing im het Ie—she was interested only in him. His father was dead now, and his mother sil ‘hovght that the young man was the mow important hing in her. By the time he wa eighteen the young man ad started to believe sha all women were like hia mother Loe of ‘women had been intersted ini. They Liked hin becaote he was very handsome, Usually they wre older women withThe Room Nest ke Campus plenty of money. They had enjoyed making love with him. But thei interest in him had never lasted very long, Each ‘ime, another handsome young man had replaced him afer a few months. Now; he hated women, but he wae il happy «© spend thee money. "Why did Dorothy get pregnant” he asked himself angri- Jy. "She's a stupid young fool!” ‘The young man was ewenty-four years old—five years colder than Dorothy. He was older chan most of the other seadents at Stoddard Univesity. He had been in the U.S ‘Army fora few years before he came to Stoddard. He had fought inthe Fa Eastin 1945 the las year of he wer. Thet was where he hed learned tha ic was easy to destroy lives. ‘Although he was angry with Dorothy Kingship, the young rman suddenly fle alittle sorry for her. She was a very postesive™* pesson. And possessive people were dificult people to like! The week before, Dorey had cold him about another of her boytiends—a Stoddard student who she'd spent alot of time with. This student hid broken wp with! her before Christmas because shel become too serious ne too postesive about hin. “Powessive women faghten men! the young man thoughe. But he understood the reason for Dorothy’ possesivenes Her ealy life had been very diferent from his. Dorothy was not an only chld—she had two sisters. Bucher parents had been unhappy, like bis. After the fist yeate of her marriage, Dorothy’ mother had been in love with another man for shor time, Eight yeas later, Leo Kingship found out about thie relationship. He had not been able to forgive his wife He divorced her, although by then she wae very il. The three gis stayed with thee father, and soon after che divorce, “The Room Nea the Cant their mother died. Leo Kingship had never been s kind, loving father. And after her mothers death, Dorothy wat afraid of being alone. She had always teed to make people like her. She ail di chee. Dorothy had told the handsome young man, “I'm sure ‘that my father wil like you when he meets you” But se had ‘often talked about her father. He was a hard man. He never forgave people fhe thought that they had done wrong, The young man war sure chat Leo Kingship would never forgive hie youngest daughter fr geting pregnant. And he would never forgive her if she got marred without his permission. “Whar wil do fshe won'thave an abortion” the young ‘nan asked himeel “There was one thing.that he was happy about: He had always met Dorothy secretly. Neither of chem had told any of the other students that they were meeting each othe in the evenings He didn’e chink that any of them knew about the telationship. And he was sue that Dorothy hadn’e told her family sbout him yee. “Although Dorothy had two older sisters, she didn't see them very often. The eldest sister, Marion, had ajob in New York City, where Leo Kingship also lived. Dorothy never ‘wrote co Marion or phoned er. Ellen, the middle sister, was at Caldwell College. Caldwell was a undeed miles fom Blue ‘River inthe state of Wisconsin. The young man knew abeut the sisets because Dorothy had told him lot about her family. And he knew chat at Christmas, Dorothy bad argued with Elen. They hadn' spoken to each other since then. “Dorothy won't tell anybody elze about he baby” che young man told himelf. "If the pills werk” everthing will be OK”2 The Pharmacy Laboratory J» Monday evening, the young man met Dorothy on the ‘camput, near the Pharmacy Laboratory. He gave he the two wie pills the he had gotten fom his fiend "You must take oh of thea,” he told he. “Take thes tonight You'l probably have a fever fran hour or two. And youl probably throw up, But then, youl abort che baby.” “What wil we do if the pills don't work?" Dorothy asked him nervously Jon worry, darling” the young man replied. He smiled "AF ehey don't work, well get marced igh awe Dorothy put she pills is her pocket. you ant to go to@ movie tonight!" she asked ‘m sory [have todo a lat of work fr my Spanish clas the young man sid “Tt help you," Dorothy said quickly. "Il come to your room wich you.” Dorothy was good at Spanish—she was 2 sudent in an advanced Spanish lass "No. Hl be OK” he said. "Go home and sake the pills now. Then you'll be OK in the morning." Dorothy did't understand. The handsome young man, wasa'e good at Spanish, but usually he didn care about i Whe did he want todo excra work for his clas now! And ‘wy wouldn't e let her help him? She was punled Dorothy didn't argue with him. She went back to her dormitory. She sat on het bed, end she looked a the two big hie pills "1 could ie to him,” she sid to herself, He would never find out about it. Teould tell him that Pa taken the pills The Phemacy Laboratory ‘and that they didn’ work. If Idi tha, hell mary me soon. ‘Weld be happy, whatever ny father say.” ‘But Dorothy didn’t want co ie to her boyiiend. They ‘were going to get matted soon. And ying wasn’t a good way to start a marriage. She go a glass of water fom the bath. 00m, closed her eyes and tok the pills ‘Aa our later, she had a fever and a tribe pain in her somach, After another hour, she chrew up. But the next morning, she was sill pregnant (On Tuesday morning, a two minutes after nine, the hand- some young man was siting in lecture roam on the campus He wasnt really listening to what the Philosophy lecturer ‘was saying. He was chinking about Dorothy. Where we she? ‘She was a Philosophy student (co, bu she hadn't come vo the lecture this morning. Was chat good? The fiend who had sold him the pills hadn't been sure chat they would work. "if you iiend is ewo months pregnant, it might be too late" he'd sad. "These pills ate eeally foe people who sre ‘only afew weeks pregnant. But she can try them can she?” “Pethaps she aborted the baby in the night,” the ha some young man thought nervously. “Perhaps Dorothy isnt feeling well enough to come to classes this morning” But at a quarter afer nine, the door of the room opened quietly and Dorothy came in. She was very pale. She sat book and the envelopes He wanted one ofthe real Pharmacy students to open the storeroom door for itn Bue chat wouldn't bea problem. ‘There were hundreds of Pharmacy stadens. Soon, one of them would come to the storeroom. The student wouldn't recognize the young maa, but this wouldn't bea problem sither They couldnt all know one another. Thee were three large final-year Pharmacy classes. Whoever came to the sorercom would se the young man standing i the corider with the final-year textbook. Whoever came would think that he was a final-yer student—butasudent ina different class. The young man cold himself this and he tried to look ‘alm and relaxed. But he was very nervous. He ida’ plan @ murder every day! ‘Aer few minutes, a pretty female student came along 6 ‘The Pharmacy Laboratory the basement corridor. She took bunch of keys" from her purse. At the same moment the young man took his own ‘bunch of keys fom his pocket and pretended that he was ty- ingto find the key tothe storeroom, "The pretty young wosnan smiled a¢ him. "I'l open the ‘And a moment later, they were both inside che store- room. All around che room were shelves ful of bottles. The bottles contained chemicals. Some of the chemicals were powders and some were liquids. Each bottle had a white label with black leere, which degeified the contents. Some ofthe labelsalzo had che pecue fl and the word PISO” in red lees. ‘The young man put the geen texzhoak snd his notebook con a desk: He opened them and he pretended to read and fake notes. Soon, che young women had found what she ‘wanted, She put some powder from one ofthe botles into a srnll glass container. Then she wens tothe door "Goodbye," she sid, ashe let the room. ‘As soon asthe had gone, the young man started to read the labels onal the bottles. faa minure, he had found th boise that he wat looking for. wHTe ARSENIC (ALO) owon was written onthe label. He opened the bottle and be poured some ofthe powder inc one of his envelopes. Then. fe found a botle of empty gelatin capsules and he puta few of them inte another envelope. A auc later, be was walk ing away from the Phattacy Laboratory. He was no longer ‘nervous, He was calm and celaed agnin. His plan was going to work!S NY ™ ~ “ Ia minute, he had found the boule that he was loking for. ey The Note Tiesceveing nh nal com nn ihe amp he young man made the arsenic pills. Each empry gelatin pele had two piaces—a smaller one and a larger one. The young man catefily pened two ofthe capsules. He careful Iy lle he two smaller pices of gelatin with senic powder. ‘Then he careflly pushed the larger pieces of gelatin over the smaller ones He had read about white asenc in the toxicology books. He knew thatthe amount of arsenic inthe two capes wat about cen tines the lethal dose. They contained een times ‘the amount of arsenic which was necessary to kill someone ‘Now he had the pill! But he hadn't started to chink bout the next part of is plan. He hd ro make Dororhy take the pills. Well, that wodldne be oo dificult. But ules the police believed that Dorothy had killed heel, they would ‘tar asking questions onthe campus. They would ask where the poison had come from. Then pethaps the pretty young Pharmacy student might remember seeing a stranger in the rnoreroom The police would show her photos of ll shes dents in Dorothy's classes. That mustn't happen! He had 10 sake Dorothy write e suicide note. That was the dificult problem. ‘When he went to bed that night, the young man still didn'theve a solution” to his problem. And he didn't have ‘much time find one. He had told Dorothy chat Bed mary her on Friday. If he didn't marry her by Friday afternoon, she would become suspicious, She would wit to her sister llen and tll her abou the baby. Then he'd have to leave 19The Nowe college and move to another sate. And that wan't the fucure chac he'd planned fr himself. But he wasn't going to live ina aller with 2 wife that he da’ love, and noisy, smelly baby! Dorothy would have to de before Friday after The next day was Wednesday. All morning, the handsome young man worried about is problem, He found che solution during the lat cas ofthe afternoon ‘The lst class was Spanish. The student were sradying 3 romantic novel called La Casa de ls Flore Negras, The young san hated the book. But while he was trying to cansate a sage fom the novel, he found the solution to hi peoblem. ‘And as soon ashe found it, he was very hap ‘When the Spanish class ended, he met Dorothy by the Pharmacy Laboratory and he took her toa movie. After thar, they went ro a restaurant. They had coffee and cheeseburger. “Dorothy” the young man sid, as she finished her coffe. "Wil yu lend me the photo that | gave you? I wane to geta copy of tory enothe Dorothy opened her purse and took out a small photo: raph of the handsome young man. The words "To Dorothy, swith all my love” were written across the Bottom of i. She ve it thie. “Tllgive it back co you next week,” he sid. “OK. But please take care of i" she replied. “I want to keep ic forever!” ‘When they lef the restaurant, the young man took het ‘back to his room and made love with her. He fee sorry for het. This was only the second time thar they had made love, but ie would be the last time too 2 TheNowe ‘Assocn as she had gone back to het dormitory, the young man burned the photo. He dida't wane the police ta find ‘anything that connected him with Dorothy. ‘The young man's fee clas on Thursday was Beonomics Dorothy was 2 student in this clas too. She came Into the room asthe lecturer wa starting to speak. She sat next co the young man, and he smiled at him happily ‘The young man wrote some words on a page of is note- book. He showed them co Dorothy Please eke notes forme. Ihave fish some Spanish wansaton for my clas hs ferncon. “Then for twenty minutes, he pretended co write a wans- lation of pasage from La Casa de las Flores Negras in is notebook. Acthe end ofthat time he stopped writing an he looked very pusled fora minute. Then the young ma tore a semall piece of paper fom his notebook, He quickly drew a picture of Dorothy on one side of i. Then he turned it over. (On the other side, he wrote some words (Can you hel me? I don understand is Querido, Espero que me perdonaves por ainfliidad que causaré, No hay ninguna otra cosa que puedo acer. aThe Nowe He passed the piece of paper to Dorothy. She read the words quickly, Then she turmed the paper over. She wat going to wrice che translation on che back. Bt she sw the drawing, and she sled ‘She turned toa new page in her own notebook and wrote the translation on that. She tore the page fom the book and passed ic tothe young man. Andas he read i he knew ‘hac everything was going to be OK, Dating, "hope that yu wil forgive me forthe unhappiness he | il ring to you. Tevet rothing elie ha can do Now he had Dorothy suicide note! During the aftemoon, the young man went 10a room on the campus where there were several typewriters®. Any Seoddardxudent could ute chese. He typed anaddees on ont cof bis white envelopes Mis len Kinship Noreh Dermiory (Caldwell College Caldwell, Wiconsin 2TheNawe TheNowe ‘The young man met Dorothy after her las clas ofthe after- “Tve just talked to my friend—the friend whose uncle owns the drugstore" be began. "He told me chat he gave me the weong pills on Monday." The young man took an envel- ‘ope from his pocket. “These ae the right ones," he sid "You must take them tonight.” "But I don’t want ro take any more pil nervously.“ want t get marie tomorrom.” “Dorothy listen to me!” the young man ssid. “If we have {this baby now, i wll grow up in trailer. Ie will have a bad startin life because its parents willbe poor. Please, take the pills Dorothy. We'll get married soon anyway. But { want to ‘meet your father fist. Then we'll have some money. We ‘won't eve to live in atralle. We can live ina real house ‘Well beso happy. And we car have a baby nexe year, dar ting.” "No," Dorothy std miserably. She started to ery. "No, * Dorothy sald “Dorothy, please do this for me;" the young man sald, putting his arms around her. "I know chat you want the baby. Bur you'e enly thinking about yourself. You aen' thinking bout me or the child. Don't give our fut child bed sarin Ie Suddenly, his voice wat cold. “Ifyou won’ take che ile Dorothy, | won't mary you. You have to ask yout athe for help, What wil he sy?" ‘They talked for half an hour. Finally, Dorothy took the covelope fom him “Take the pills at about ten o'clock this evening” the young man said. “If ches pills don’t wodk, Il marry you omoreow aftemoon [ promize you that! u ‘Then he held her hand for 8 moment and he left he. Slowly and sadly, she walked towards her dormitory. ‘Aca quater afer ten that night, the handsome young man ‘went toa telephone booth in the street neat his room. He ‘honed Dorothy’ room a the daemon. “Did you take the pill” he asked her. “Ye, she aa," took them at ten o'coc ‘Thank you, darling,” he sid. "My friend sald that you will probably fel some pain half an hour afer you've taken them. You mustn't worry abou it. Dont tell anybody. The pain wllsoon go. You be OK in the morning. Goodnight, ering. I'l see you tomorrow.” “Goodnight” she replied. "love you." ‘The young man put Dorothy’ translation from La Casade las Flores Negras ino the envelope with her sister Ellen's address on the fron. Then he dropped the envelope inco ‘mailbox®, He sailed ashe walked back to his room, 84 The Municipal Building The handsome young man was ealy fo his frst class on Friday moming. The Philosophy leccurer hada’ atcved yet. Thee gels were talking in a coener of the room, They ‘were excited about something, and the young man vas Wor: red. Were they taking about Dorothy? Had somebody found ther dead body already Thac would be bad! Dorothy's sist Ellen woulda’ get the note until afer three clock that afternoon. If Dorothy’ body was found before that, the police would come to the eampus and azk all the students in Dorothy’ classes questions ‘The young man had hoped chat nobody would stare 10 worry about Dorothy until the evening. A oon a Ellen got the note, she would phone the University Office”, Then the police would be sure that Dorothy had killed herself, ‘even before they went tothe darmirory. Then they woulda’« ask questions in her clases. The lecturer arrived and everybody sat down. The hand: some young min tied to forget his worries. He tried to lit to the lecturer's words. After a few minutes, he heard the door of the room open and he heard somebody come in. He didn turn his head. But when somebody sat down next 19 him, he looked around. Suddenly he wanted to sream. His skin ele cold and he thought chat he was going to throw up. Dorothy smiled at him and passed him a plece of paper. He waited afew moment, then he reed the words oni. ‘The naw pls didn’ work ther 26 ‘The Municipal Bung “Oh, God," the young man thought desperately. "Why id teas het? She dida' take the pills! She wants to get ‘mared right away, <0 she dint take the pills! And at ehree clock, her sister will get the note. Then she'll phone the ‘campus. And then there'll be rou He stopped listening to the lecturer and he started t0 ‘think hard about his problem. The sulide note was on its sway to Caldwell he couldn't change that. He looked at his watch. Ie was ten oelock, The note would reach Dorothy's sister's dormitory at three o'lock that afternoon. "Soin the next five hours, Dorothy hast die," the young ‘man told himself. "And everybody must think that she killed herself Whac ean Ido?” ‘Butsoon, he had an idea and he felt calm agnin. Dorothy beloved that she was going to be married that afernoon. ‘And people in Blue River often got marie a the Municipal Building. The Mariage License Bureau” was there. People had ro go ro the bureau co get a lense before they could be smaried. And thre was a judge’ office inthe building too. If two people didn’t want to mary ina church, the judge could ‘marry them, a con as they had their license “And the Municipal Building isthe highest building in the town,” the young man thought. “I's fourteen stores high. I someone jumped from the top of i, hey would cer- tainly de! ‘At the end ofthe Philosophy cls, the young man spoke ‘quickly to Doeothy “Weill gee married today, darling," he sid. “Will you wait for me by the Pharmacy Laboratory! I have to call some- ody. Iwon’te long. Then we ean make our plans.” n‘The Manisa! Bung ‘The young man went to a phone booth. He asked the operator forthe numberof the Mariage License Bureau, He dlaled che number “Ie this the Marriage Licente Bureau? he asked, when somebody answered. "When is che bureau open today, please ‘The clerk told him thatthe bureau would be open until twelve oclock, and then from one oclock to five o'clock in the afternoon, The bureau would be closed for an hour between twelve and one. That was when the cleks went ut for their lunch. ‘A few minutes later, the young man met Dorothy ouside the laboratory She looked nervous. He smiled a her. “We'll get macied right away, darling,” he sad. “Don't worry about the baby. Everyching wll be OK." “Oh, I'm so happy that you aren't angry about the baby.” she replied °T want to marry you so much.” “We have to go to the Municipal Building to get che license,” the young man sald. "Lee's go there at about half past twelve. Youll have to show a clerk your birth certif- 2. Don forget to bring it." "OK. Ihave to get some clothes from the dormitory and have to buy some gloves” Dorothy replied. *I'l meet you here ata quarter afer twelve.” ‘She kissed him and she walked quickly away ‘When Dorothy met him again, she was wearing 2 beauifl _rcen suc, a green bel, a whice blouse, a blue scarf end white loves. She had pur on some bright red lipstick “My birth cefeate isin my purse,” Dorothy sid. "V'm 20 happy” 8 ‘The Mankipl uiing ‘Ther rode on a bus towards the town center. Iwas twenty fo one when they arived atthe Municipal Building. As they eached tthe young man sav something that worried hit, He'd never Looked atthe building cael ly before. Now he saw thatthe sides of the fourteen-story ‘tower were not completely straight. Stories seven to twelve ‘weten'eae wide as tories one to six. And the top two stories n't as wide e stories seven to twelve ifthe rof ofthe twelfth tory is very wide, I might have ‘ problem,” the young man told himself. "Everything i going ‘wrong today!" ‘The two young people entered the building. Inthe Tobby, they looked ata list of the offices on each story. “The Mactiage License Bares was on the sixth story. They got into an elevator and they went up. “They got out ofthe elevator at the seth story, and they quickly found the door of the Marriage License Burea “There was a sgn on the door. The bureau was closed until one o'lock. "Tm sorry, Dorothy.” the young man sald. "Tm s stupid. ‘Why didn't T check?” Then he smiled. "Ihave an ides," he said, "Levstry to ge up othe roof The view from there must bbe wonderful” ‘They walked back to the levator and they went up tothe fourteenth story. When they get ou, they swan iron door ‘opposite the elevator. The young man pulled it open. Beyond the door were some iron stairs. The Young man closed the {door behind them and they started to climb. At the top of the stairs was another ion door Iehadn' been opened for a Tong time, and i didn’ move easily. But the young man pushed ic very hard, and at asi did open. »‘The Mai! Bung Dorothy and the young man smiled st each other as they walked out onto the roof "Wele so high up here!” Dorothy said Near the door was a tll metal frame, At the top of tis was the red ight which the young man could se fom his window everynight. ‘The handsome young man looked around him. Each side of te rof was about 150 fet wide. All around the edge was 8 brick wall, bout three and a half feet high and a foot thick: Buc the building wasn’t solid. In the middle, it had big square ir shafe Each side ofthe air safe was about 30 feet wide. There was a brick wall around the aisha too. asthe same height and thickness ar the outer wal “Come to the edge, Dorothy," the young man sid. Lack st the view of Blue River” He led her othe ester edge ofthe ‘While Docothy was looking out over the town, the young ‘man looked down. Only wo stories below them was a wide stone ledge. It was the roof ofthe twelth story. “Ifshe only falls onto that roof, she won't be killed” he thought. “ll have to push her into the air sha.” He led Dorothy back towards the middle af the rot. He leaned over the wall ofthe air daft. The sdes of the shat were taht, He could se the ground fourceen stories below ‘im Suddenly he fle good. "Nothing else wil go wrong" he told himself. “Everything wil be OK now.” “Lecssit on this wall and smoke acigarcte while we wait” ‘he said. "The bureau wll open again in fiteen minutes, He cook Dorothy's purse and he put i down near the wall: He lifted her wp until she could st on the wall Thea the got up too and sut beside her. He lic cigarettes for both of 30 ‘The Mcp ailing them. They smoked silently fora few minutes. Then they talked about thet face inthe trailer pa. “Ica be fun," Dorothy said. "We'll ave a home of our own.” She finshed smoking her cigarette and dropped the ‘end of ir onto the roof next to che wall. The young man Tooked atthe cigatete end. He sw the fd liptici oni. He smiled and he chew his own cigarette end into the ai sha. He jumped down. Dorothy was stil sting on the wall. ‘The young man held both her hands, “Pm so happy that those pills didn't work, darling,” he seid. "You're right! Ie sul be fn in the eal ‘Do you really think that? she asked. “Are you rally happy thac the pills dide' work” “Yes, Dorothy." he replied “I want 1 have this baby to. know that now" He smiled. ‘This was the time to posh her. But there was something the young man wanted to eat fst. He was going to kill het anyway, bu chis would give im an extra reason. He knew ‘what she was going to sy net. “There's something { mas ell you," Dorothy sid. "I ed oyou. [did't take those pil lastnight. crew them into the toilet. I wanted to get married t you 0 much. Will you forgive me, daring? I" Her last word turned into a scream oferta the young ‘man pushed her with all his stengch. She ell backwards off ‘the wal nc the at sha, creaming we she fel, ‘The young man was already running towards the iron door when he heard Dorothy’s body hit the Bottom of the shaft. Three mingtes Inter, he wae i the street. He wae walle {ng slowly away fom the Monicipal Building. After another ‘minute, hesaw an ambulance going towards the building, at |PART TWO: ELLEN 1 On the Train March 1951 Pts seca he noming len Kinin wat siting in eran, on her way to Blue River, Towa. She had ‘been writing a letter to Bud Coss Bud was her boyilend. Like Ellen, he was suudene at Caldwell College Elen star ced to read what she had writen. Dear Bud, Pm going to be away from Caliuel for a few das. Please don’ worry about ine. Uhave decided 1 gavel to Blue River. "There's something Ihave odo there. Perhae shoul have tld sox about bfore Tf. 1 dnl you becouse T wre sare ‘tony own, Youasled me notto go Bhe River agai. ow that you were ering to hlp me.I now tar you din’ wane me tobe upset. hope hat you won'e be angry with me, Bud. And hope that yout help me when I need your Pee often told you how unhappy I as when my sister de early a year ago. And you hzo that since I first met you at Caldvel ase fl, ou have made me fel much happier. Yo ve been good t me, Bu. But cans kinking about Deroy. Pee ben thinking about he death ot recenly, and I've discov cred someting terrible! My sister didn’ hl hrslf—she was smuvdered! "You will ay, “That's spid! The palice said that Dorothy 3Ellen Kingship sas sting on atin, om her wy to Blue River. nthe Tran led herself. The police know best.” But the police dan’ ow some things that I know now. 1's ue that Dorothy's death oul’ ave been am aclent, “The wall aro shea shaf ofthe Muicipal Buldng was more ‘han thre and half fet high. Dorothy couldn hoe fallen io the a shafeecetentally! Bue why di the police thnk that Dorothy kled herself There were four reasons 1) Thad received ance fom Doty onthe day that she ded ‘The police said thar ies cide nove. But thee was something serong about tat eter. Dorothy had never called me "Darling". She clays wrote “Dear Elen” or "Dearest Elen. And the let- ter dub’ relly talk abou suicide. Ie only sald sha something tthich Dorothy was going todo os ging to make me unhappy. ‘The ltr eid hat she wae sary for ha. 2) The police found Dorothy's purse atthe tp of the ‘Manipal Buln and her ith ciate was i. The police ssid, "Sh eft the ich craieate hee so that we could en her esis 3) The police also found the end of a igarewe with Dorothy's lpsck on ita ch op of the being. They tough hash had gone othe op ofthe building, smoked a cigarette to make herself Im, thn jenped ir hea shah. °8) The doctor who looked at her dead body covered chat Dorothy was owo months premant. So the police though hat the had led herelf because she was pregnant, None ofthe newspaper report of Dorody's death sald that sh was Prepant ‘That was because our father pai people to keep that information owe of he newspapers! The police new tat. They knew tha he hated the ides of urmarved women being remnant, So the pice though that Dorothy was afi tll our father abou he baby. DDovohy was going to have a baby, so she must have had a 35 aOn th Train Ont Train beoyfiend. None of her fiends knew who the child's father was. Thy hadn't seen her with a boyfriend snce Chrismas. But she was tuo mons pregnan in Apis she mast have ha alae tionship with someone wt February, at lest. My father ai, "e ign’ srange tha this man har’ al he police about he rla- onship wth Dori. He mua know tat she was pregnant. Ihe tals eo the police, they will say thar Dorothy's death was his aul." Tageed with this ac the tine. And I wasn’t surprised when the police din’ ty to find the faher of Dorothy's cil. ‘Making somebody preguane isn't acre in his cour! ‘And wasn’ surpried tha Dorothy hadn’ old me abou her Pregnancy, We'd argued at Chrismas, and she hadn't writen co ‘me snce then, But | ld wonder ho the father of hr baby wa. A fou weeks before we arued, Deroy tld me about a student ‘tho she ied alr. He was inher English clas. She said that he sx Hod, nd wry handsome, Wath te ater of aby? ‘The police thought tha my sister had led rs, so they were’ nuerested in any ofr bayilends. And there were some cer things thatthe police weren’:inerested in—some very rerange things. The police din’ know Dorothy, 2 they didnt understand that these things were strange! But in the last few weeks, Ihave ied a understan tes hing. len stopped reading for a moment sd wil be angry with me for visting Blue Riven” she thoughe. "Buchel understand, He will elp me when [need his hele.” ‘She seared reading agin. 36 A few hors before Dorothy ed, she rowed abel from one of her fiends in the dormitory. Why dd she Borow able, if she thes going to kl rel? The pole ald ehnselves hat, but they ‘i's inthe question was very imperane. Tey sod, "She was ‘unhappy. She did’ now uhar she was going to do But there was another question which the police didn’ ask therueles. [co Dorothy’ things rom her vom atthe dormitory ter her death, I found something there which puzzled me ‘Dorey had owned Ble exactly ike she one that she ad bor: rossed fom her fiend, It was sll m her room. So why di she Dorr her fens bel? When she did, Dorothy was wearing @ pair of new white loves. She ha bough hem ata store Blue Ree on he mor: ing of the day she ded, They were very cheap gloves and they ‘weren't very pray, But x her rom, Dorothy had a beef pair of expensive white gloves. Why dd she by cheap pai of hire (Roves that doy when she alteady Rad beatiful pain her oom The Police aed to he ower ofthe store athere Dori had bough the gloves. The woman sod thar Dorothy had fst. asked fora pair of white sockings. The store didn't have any Uwhie stockings, 20 she bought the whive gloves instead. The tuoman sid #T think ha she wanted something new tat day She dds core whether i was par of stockings or a pai of doves" Dorothy was wearing a beaut geen sue thar Friday. It suas her best suit end she ws ery proud oft Bur she was aso swearing ery odie blows. The blouse dd look good with the see was the wrong se. Ana Deroy had several much ‘newer white blouses n her room. They wold hove look good tuith the st, Dorothy was very earful about he clthes—she (resed wey ley, So why was she wearing hold wie Bouse 7one Tain ‘And there was anoter sane thing. When sh died, Dorothy ua wearing right lesa with he green saa er bru shoes. The sar dit look good with her other clothes. And Derothy had some scarves in her rom which would have looked sod withthe green ut For weks now, Ihave been asking myself these questions — "Why dd Dorothy borow the bl fro he frend when she lady onmed one excl ike? Why was she wearing that old Blouse with er new ut? Why was she wearing che Blue sear? ‘And hyd she buy a new pa of white gloves ken sheared ad soe beter ones” asked myself thse questions, and I tod etl, *There isa ‘nesage hee fom Dorothy. You mist 5 to derstand the mes ‘Then we days ag, | asked myself th question ina difenent der Lashed mys, "Why was Dorothy wearing the od Bowe? Why di she bythe new gloves? Wy dd she Borrow the Bl? “And why dl she wear the blue scarf with er greens!” And ‘deny [di underon Bud, do you krow the ol posm abit what a bride has 10 swear om er wedding day? The poem ys hat f she wears ese things, se walle icky. The poem says that a bride must wear Something od, something new, Something borowe, someching bu. ‘The police sad shat Dorothy had gone tothe Builng becuse sh wanted to ll href. ‘They said, cd ojump from ahigh ing, and the Mircpl Bulldings the highest bing in he oun." But Pv discovered something eke ‘The Murcipal Bung is alo the bung whch conta the 38 nthe Tate ‘Mariage License Buran. Tha’ here people go if they wan to get marred. And if somone want to ge marred, they have to ‘how a clerk at che bureau ther bith cerfiate! And now P've Tooke agin at Deroshy' loner tome. Her words might be saying tha she's ory for geang marred witht wing me fs. ‘There's one more thing. I've dcovered that the Marriage Licene Butea closes between twelve and one aac each day Teas tn mines vo one when Dor fl rom the roof |Tnow think hats wha happened last Api. Dorothy had told er boyend that sh was preguae. He old her that he was sng to mary her. On the day she ded, he tld he tha he was taking her tothe Marriage License Buveau, Then he took her t0 the to ofthe Municipal Buading, because the bureau was closed {for rch, He waited uh she smoked a gare, then e pushed he no the ashe Well, Bud, al hiss the reason wi Tha Ife Caldwell fora fe dys. P'm omy way t Bue River Pm onthe an nw, 7m going tlk to the Professor of English ot Stoddard Univers Thm going wo be a detective! I want find out about handsome bond dents n Dorothy's Englih clas. I wane to dscover who Deroy’ boyend ws. Don' wory about me, Bud. I'l be ery cael ue seen lars of movies where a brave gl detzctve discovers he dent of ‘muedere. She alucys tls him that she knows the truth about fim. And he 095, “Now you know th rich, I'm going til you!” If find Dorothy's boyfriend, I won’ alk to hi, Bu. 1 any want 1 know who he is. Then I'l mg fhe abou all. his, end my fake wil alo he police. Bilen finished reading what she had written and she looked out ofthe window. The tain was acing at Blve 3 4