Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 38, No. 4. Whole No. 215, October 1961

The Eye of Jehovah by Ruth Melcher

This is the 223rd “first story” published by EQMM... “The Eye of Jehovah” has a driving sincerity that achieves credibility — you can see the bedridden, nearly paralyzed old lady, almost hear her think...

Mrs. Melcher is in her early forties. She has two children — a teenage daughter who plans to be a nurse and a son who entered college in the fall of 1960 and plans to be a physics major.

The author’s first job was that of Desk Assistant in a Public Library, but after two years of trying to support two children and herself on $90 per month, she took a State Examination and is now a file clerk in the Vermont State Income Tax Department.

Her “first story” stems from real life — she once knew similar characters and they made a strong impression on her; but, Mrs. Melcher tells us, “they are dead now, so perhaps I shan’t be haunted by them any more.”

Something is going to happen. I wish Nurse Barnes was here. Not but what she doesn’t deserve her afternoon off — the trouble she has, taking care of a cantankerous old hulk like me, helpless as a great fat baby. Wonder what she’d do if she knew that every time she goes off, my dear little sister, Ellie, and her criminal son, George, come sneaking in to paw through my things.

She-devil and her whelp! They don’t get past Miss Barnes — not after my first stroke.

Wonder how they get by Miss Trask downstairs — silly little flibberty-gibbet. Probably swallows all George’s sweet-talk. Pretty good at it, George is. Got by with a suspended sentence even when they caught him red-handed. Talk himself out of anything.

Wish I knew what they want this time. Ellie’s already taken everything worth any money, times she’s pussy-footed around while Miss Barnes was gone.

Nothing I can do to stop them — can’t hear, can’t talk, can’t move. Only my eyes and one finger, though Doctor Cushman told Miss Barnes the paralysis could get better gradually, if I don’t have another stroke. Funny, almost wish I hadn’t seen him tell her — hard to know when your toes really tingle or when you just think yourself into it. If he’d been facing the other way, I wouldn’t have been able to read his lips. And then I wouldn’t be wondering.

Maybe Ellie and her precious son don’t know Miss Barnes was supposed to take my will to the bank this afternoon. Can’t be that they want, though. Ellie knows all the money I’ve got left goes to this Home. My books and the embroidered mottoes and the pictures are the only things I can leave anybody.

I hope Miss Barnes did take my will instead of leaving it in the safe downstairs. Ellie’d be mean enough to burn it in front of me just for spite. And the lock on that safe wouldn’t stop George.

Wonder what they really want. I’ve got this funny feeling. Guess I’ll know soon.

Door’s opening.

So there you are, Ellie — and your darling George. Radio said what, George? — turn around, drat you, so’s Lean see your lips! What deed? To the Little Princess Mine? What in tunket would anybody want that for? Even Papa finally admitted he’d been swindled. Apologized for calling it the name he used to call me. Never was any gold there.

Government wants it? Willing to pay the owner how much, George? You don’t say. And the owner has only three days to bring proof of ownership before the mine reverts to government property? Well, well. What was it they found there, I wonder. Never mind. I’m the owner. You won’t get it, Ellie.

Yes, I could point to the deed. But I won’t. Haven’t even thought about it for years. Funny, I’d have thrown it away, except it reminded me of Papa — and it was just the right size to use as backing when I framed my embroidered motto. Right in front of me now. THE EYE OF JEHOVAH IS UPON YOU. You’re looking right at it, Ellie, but you’ll never think to take the frame apart.

So it’s the deed you’ve been hunting for all this time. No wonder you didn’t find it. You always slide right over that motto. THE EYE OF JEHOVAH... Makes you uneasy, Ellie, don’t it?

My will? Lucky I got it tended to before I had the stroke. You’re wasting your time, Ellie. You won’t get a thing. All my pictures and books — and the mottoes — are for Miss Barnes.

After what you did to me, breaking Papa’s heart and spoiling my engagement, do you really think I’d let you have anything of mine? I’ve had to watch you steal all my trinkets, Ellie, but you won’t get the deed to that mine.

You’re going to what, George? if the will is in the safe, you’ll... Of course. You can do it so easily, too. With me dead and the will burned, Ellie would get my stuff.

What did you say, Ellie? Who won’t wake up? Oh, poor Miss Trask. Drugged. Her silly little head will ache when she does wake up, but she won’t dare say anything. Won’t want the trustees to know about her lallygagging.

Just like George to think of everything. Even has a substitute will all ready to forge the signatures on. I hope Miss Barnes remembered. If she didn’t... Funny, I’ve been expecting to die for a long time now — but not like this... Probably he’ll smother me. Won’t leave traces.

He’s gone. Will Ellie watch him do it when he gets back? I couldn’t. I’d remember. Times when she was little — like a baby fox, she was — sly, but helpless and cuddly.

Burns me up, though — George to go unpunished and them to get all that money. My money.

There! I did feel a tingle. I know I did. I think I’m wiggling my toes. Isn’t the blanket moving ever so little? Don’t look this way, Ellie. I’m sure it is.

Too late. He’s back.

Oh, Miss Barnes, you did forget. You never thought the safe downstairs would be so unsafe!

They’re going to burn it. What’s the matter, Ellie, don’t you like what I said about you in it? Or are you feeling a little bit squeamish?

She’s going. Almost running. Away from yourself, Ellie?

It’s going to be now. I think I’m scared. I ought to be praying. I want to shut my eyes, but I can’t...

What’s happened? Did the bed shake just then? Something’s happened! George has stopped. He’s listening. I wish I could hear. Has somebody come? Too soon for Miss Barnes, and nobody else would... What is it, George? It’s Ellie?... THE STAIRS! Ellie didn’t know about the back stairs! The men weren’t to start fixing them until this morning and it’s dark in the hall. George is running out.

That hurt. All the way up my side. Pain. Real pain! Maybe I could roll over. Wouldn’t stop George, but if I can move, maybe I can grab at his knees. He won’t be expecting anything... Here he comes again.

Elbe’s dead? Poor Ellie. Always wanted so much more than she could have. Funny, I’ve hated her for so long, and now I just feel sorry for her.

George, if you could see your face! The Devil himself must look just like you do now. Don’t you even care, George? Your own mother’s body still warm, and you’d leave her there and let them blame her for my death?

I’m — not — going to — let you — get away with — it, George. I’m — going to — stop you.

He’s reaching for the pillow.

God, help me!

Now...

Stop that squirming, George. I couldn’t move now even if I wanted to, falling off the bed that way. You can’t breathe under me? Of course you can, or you wouldn’t be screaming like that. You’ll wake all the old ladies, if they aren’t already. But they’re scared. I wish I couldn’t see your face. It isn’t pretty.

I hope Miss Barnes comes soon. I’m not very comfortable, either. Nothing hurts, but I can see my foot — turned backwards. It makes me feel queer to look at it.

I mustn’t faint. Not until I can point to the deed for Miss Barnes. Please hurry, Miss Barnes!

Names won’t hurt me, George, and blubbering won’t help you either.

Are they here? I can’t see the door.

Yes. At last.

That’s right, George. Tell them everything. Later on when you’re not so scared, you’ll be sorry you talked so much.

I wish I didn’t feel so dizzy.

Miss Barnes, never mind George and his broken ribs. He’s lucky to be alive at all — my two hundred and seventy-two pounds landing on top of him when I got his legs and tripped him over backwards.

Just get me to where I can point to the motto. There. Look at my finger! Please, Miss Barnes. That’s right. Now bring me the motto...

Why, my finger isn’t moving any more. I feel very strange. Where did everybody go? It’s so dark...

“She’s gone,” the head nurse said to Miss Barnes. “Why do you think she wanted that awful motto, Barnes? Oh, stop crying. You did everything you could. Everybody has to have an afternoon off once in a while. Snap out of it. We’ve got all Trask’s patients to see to along with ours, remember.”

Miss Barnes fumbled with the motto.

“Here, give me that thing. THE EYE OF JEHOVAH IS UPON YOU...” The head nurse shrugged. Suddenly her sharp eyes grew sharper. “Hey, look! The frame’s loose. There’s something behind—”

“It’s the deed to the mine!” Miss Barnes exclaimed. “The one they were trying to find!”

“Aren’t you glad now that you took the original of her will to the bank? That nephew must think he burned the only copy. Not that it would do him any good, where he’s going,” the head nurse sniffed. “Well, Barnes, let’s start tidying up in here.”

But for a moment Miss Barnes stood regarding the mountain of quiet flesh on the bed. “Poor poor thing,” she said softly. “To die this way — so helpless.”