The Mandie Collection (50 page)

Dr. Plumbley inspected the map again. “No, I'm sorry. I don't know where those things could be,” he said. “The house, though, I believe, is where Ruby's little girlfriend Patricia lived.”

“Uncle Ned said he thought her friend lived there. He said her father worked for my grandfather,” Mandie said.

“Yes, everybody called the man Scoot. I don't know what his given name was. They moved away right after your grandfather closed the mine,” the doctor recalled.

“Did you know that my Uncle John has reopened the mine?” Mandie asked.

“You mean that?” Dr. Plumbley looked shocked. “When your grandpa closed it, he said it would never be opened again.”

“I know,” Mandie replied. “But we wanted to hunt for rubies, so Uncle John got it fixed up. And then there was this man who said he wanted to buy it.”

“Buy it? But your grandpa closed it because some of your grandma's ancestors are buried there,” the doctor told her.

“You are so right,” Joe said. “If we could have met up with you before we got involved in that mine, things would have turned out better.”

“Uncle Ned knew about the burial grounds, but he wouldn't tell anybody,” Mandie explained. “He said the Cherokees have different customs from the white people. But then I'm part Cherokee myself,” she said proudly.

“When you mentioned Uncle Ned, are you talking about the old Indian who lived with your grandparents at one time?” the doctor asked.

Mandie smiled. “I certainly am. In fact, Sallie is his granddaughter.”

Dr. Plumbley reached for Sallie's hand and smiled at here. “I loved your grandfather when I was a youngster. He was always so kind to everybody, and he knew everything. All the children loved him.”

Sallie nodded. “They still do. I think I have a wonderful grandfather.”

“He's visiting the Shaws right now,” Joe informed him.

“But we have to go home tomorrow,” Sallie said. “I live with my grandparents over at Deep Creek. Did you also know my grandmother, Morning Star?”

“Of course,” the doctor replied. “But she couldn't speak English at all, so we weren't well acquainted.”

Mandie laughed. “She still can't speak much English, but she's trying real hard to learn.”

“And you, young lady,” Dr. Plumbley said to Mandie, “I understand you are Mr. Jim Shaw's daughter.”

Mandie nodded.

“I left Franklin before your father was ever born, but I've kept in touch with friends here, and I know about him. In fact, your Uncle John was only about four years old when I left. Seems a hundred years ago, doesn't it, Abraham?”

“Now we ain't dat old, Samuel. I be sixty-one come December, and you be one year younger than me,” Abraham replied. “You jes' looks 'round, and you be seein' lots o' older people. Why, we jes' middle-aged, me and you.”

“You'll probably live to be a hundred, Abraham.” Dr. Plumbley laughed.

Joe shuffled his feet impatiently. “Dr. Plumbley, do you have any idea what Ruby might have buried?” he asked, anxious to continue their search.

“No, sorry. I never heard about this map. You say you found it tacked on the back side of an old sideboard in the attic? That puzzles me because Ruby said she had a trunk in the attic where she locked away her secrets and treasures. She wore the key to the trunk on a ribbon around her neck.”

“We did find it on the back of the sideboard—when Uncle John was moving some furniture out of the attic,” Mandie said.

Joe's eyes grew wide. “Have y'all been through all the trunks in the attic?” he asked.

“Goodness, no.” Mandie replied. “There are trunks on top of trunks up there.”

“It would take a long time to go through all of them because the furniture would have to be moved around to get to some,” Sallie explained.

“After all these years that trunk may have been thrown out,” the doctor said.

“No, I wouldn't think so. Uncle John says that he can't remember anybody ever cleaning out the attic,” Mandie answered. “We found
a wardrobe stuffed full of dolls that belonged to Ruby and some old important papers that Uncle John didn't even know were there.”

“Tell us about Ruby,” Sallie said, looking up at the big Negro doctor.

“Ruby was a beautiful little girl, dark hair and eyes, and a big smile that absolutely lit up her face,” Dr. Plumbley told them. “She liked to wear ruby-colored clothes and ribbons in her hair because that was her name. I think she was named Ruby because her papa discovered rubies in the mine the day she was born. He thought the sun rose and set in her. He was so proud of her.”

“Uncle Ned said he wouldn't ever mention her name again after she got killed,” Mandie said, “and that he wouldn't allow anyone else to mention her name around him.”

“That's right. It just broke his heart. Even though he had John, and then later Jim, he was never as attached to them as he was to Ruby,” the doctor explained. “But then she was his firstborn, and she was also the only girl.”

“Uncle Ned said my grandfather just grieved himself to death after Ruby was killed,” Mandie recalled. “And then my grandmother died soon after my father was born.”

“I knowed yo' pa, Missy,” Abraham spoke up. “I lived right here when he was bawn, and I stayed right here while he growed up.”

Again Joe seemed anxious to get back to the subject of Ruby's treasure. “Dr. Plumbley, we were down in the old newspaper building Friday, going through old newspapers,” he said. “We found the story about Ruby's death in one of the papers. Do you remember who the Negro boy was who found her after her pony threw her?”

A deep sadness covered Dr. Plumbley's face. “That Negro boy was . . . me,” he said slowly. “I was—”

“You were the one who found her?” Mandie interrupted.

Dr. Plumbley nodded. “I was going over to your grandpa's house to get some eggs. He kept a lot of chickens, and he gave my grandmother all the eggs she wanted. I went out of my way to go past the ruby mine because I always liked to look around there when I got the chance. I was walking along the path when I heard a great commotion ahead of me.

“Then I heard an animal whining. I ran and ran until I came to the bend in the path where it goes around that huge oak tree. There I found little
Ruby.” His voice broke. “She must have been thrown from her pony up against that big oak. It was a terrible sight. I've never gotten over it.”

“Wasn't she used to riding?” Mandie asked quietly. “Or was the pony a new one for her?”

“Ruby rode like a streak of fire from the time she could sit up straight on a pony.” Dr. Plumbley smiled sadly. “Your grandpa always said she rode like a real Indian papoose. And she had had that pony a long time. It was a beautiful Shetland.” He paused a moment. “After the accident your grandpa ordered the pony shot, but Uncle Ned arranged for one of the young Indians from his village to take the pony away. He told your grandpa it had been shot and buried.”

Mandie looked quickly at Sallie. “That sounds like your grandfather—soft-hearted for animals. But I've never known him to cover up the truth like that.”

“You do not understand,” Sallie replied. “It would have been cruel to kill the pony. My grandfather forgave the poor animal. Besides, no one knew what caused the pony to throw her. It might not have been the pony's fault.”

“I understand,” Mandie agreed. “I would have done the same thing. Dr. Plumbley, was Ruby already dead when you found her?”

“I think so. It must have been instant death. The commotion I heard must have been the pony throwing her off. When I found her, her neck was broken.” He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief. “Even though I'm supposed to be a big, strong man now that I'm a doctor, I still feel shivers go over me when I remember little Ruby lying there. I remember thinking, she's too good to remain on this earth. God wants her home with his other little angels.”

“Abraham, you didn't know her, did you?” Joe asked.

“No, I was too young when I left here. When I come back later all dis done happened,” the gardener replied. “I does know, though, old Mistuh Shaw, he never smiled no mo.' He not innerested in nuthin' no mo.' ”

“I ran like crazy,” Dr. Plumbley continued his recollections. “Old Mr. Shaw was the first one I found here in the yard, so he's the one I had to tell. He was carrying the eggs in from the barn, and when I told him what happened, he went wild. He threw those eggs everywhere and ran back the way I had come.”

Everyone sat silent for a moment.

“How long are you going to be here?” Mandie asked hesitantly.

“I don't know,” the doctor replied. “My brother is still sick, and I took a little vacation to come down here and doctor him. So I'll be around until he mends.”

“What I really meant was how long are you going to be here at Abraham's house today?” Mandie asked.

“If he'll give me something to eat, I might stay for supper. That is . . . if he asks me.” Dr. Plumbley grinned at his friend.

“You knows I'll give you sumpin' to eat. I can cook jes' as good as any woman, jes' 'bout,” Abraham said.

“Except for one, right, Abraham?” Mandie teased.

Abraham frowned. “What you talkin' 'bout, Missy?”

“The one you haven't talked to for forty years,” Mandie replied. Abraham got up from the steps, dusted off the seat of his pants, and sat down in a rocking chair. “I ain't been knowin' no woman forty years,” he said.

“I know what she's talking about, Abraham,” Dr. Plumbley said. “I think it's time you brought Jenny home.”

“Who's Jenny?” the old man asked stubbornly.

“Just think how nice it would be to have a woman in the house,” the doctor told him.

“Look who's talkin.' You didn't git married yo'self till 'bout three year ago, after you done got to be a old man,” Abraham replied.

“Why, you just said a while ago that we aren't old,” Dr. Plumbley teased. “You well know I couldn't get married when I was young. I had to work very hard to get an education so I could go to medical school. I didn't have time or money to support a wife and family.”

Liza came across the yard to Abraham's front porch. “Miz 'Lizbeth she say fo' y'all to git yo'selves in de parlor,” she told the young people.

“All right,” Mandie replied. “What does she want? Do you know?” She stood up, folded the map, and put it in her apron pocket.

“She say de Turners dey done gone. You come home now,” Liza repeated.

The young people exchanged glances.

“We weren't waiting for the Turners to leave, Liza. It was you who didn't want to see them,” Mandie reminded her.

“Is anyone else there?” Joe asked.

“Nope. Jes' Miz 'Lizbeth, Mistuh John, and dat Injun man,” Liza replied.

Mandie turned to the Negro doctor, who was now standing on the porch. “Could you come over to the house with us and meet my mother and Uncle John. You said you know Uncle Ned already.”

The doctor looked at his friend. “Abraham, what time are you going to have dinner?”

“Whenever you come back,” he answered.

“I won't be gone long,” Dr. Plumbley promised.

Mandie led the way back to the house and into the parlor. Grasping Dr. Plumbley's big hand, she stepped forward. “Mother, Uncle John, this is Abraham's friend, Dr. Samuel Hezekiah Plumbley from New York,” she announced. “Uncle Ned, you already know him from way back, remember?”

Uncle Ned stood, looked the doctor over, and put his hand on the big man's shoulder. “This young Samuel Plumbley?” the Indian asked as he studied the smiling black face.

“That's me,” Dr. Plumbley said, putting an arm around the Indian's shoulders. “You don't know how glad I am to see you again.”

“Friend of Ruby,” Uncle Ned said, a little excited, which was unusual for him. He turned to John and Elizabeth. “Friend of Ruby,” he repeated.

Uncle John stood and gripped the doctor's hand. “You were a friend of my little sister's?”

“Yes, sir, I knew Ruby,” Dr. Plumbley replied.

Uncle John introduced Elizabeth.

“How do you do, Dr. Plumbley? Please sit down,” she invited.

The young people sat and listened as the adults discussed the same things they had been talking about.

Uncle John was happy to find a friend of his sister's, and Uncle Ned was delighted to see the small boy, now grown big and tall, who had known his dear little papoose, Ruby.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE SECRET HIDING PLACE

As soon as the excitement subsided, Mandie asked her mother if she and her friends could look in the attic for the trunk that belonged to Ruby.

“A trunk?” Elizabeth questioned.

“Dr. Plumbley told us Ruby had a special trunk she kept all her secrets and treasures in,” Mandie explained. “And she wore the key around her neck.”

“Are you giving up on the map search?” Uncle John asked.

“Oh, no, sir,” Mandie replied. “But we're at a dead end right now. I thought we might find something in Ruby's trunk.”

“Go ahead and look, dear—all of you. But don't waste the rest of the day up there, and do be careful moving things around. Some of that furniture is heavy,” Elizabeth cautioned.

The young people raced upstairs. When they reached the attic, they again despaired at the sight of so many pieces of furniture, boxes, trunks, and other discards.

“Let's start with the easy ones,” Mandie said. “The trunks near the door are easier to get to.”

She led the way and the three of them began opening trunks and searching the contents. As they worked their way deeper into the attic, they found trunks packed with old clothes, books, shoes, papers, dishes, blankets, linens, and even baby clothes.