When Crime Came to Mulberry Lane

By Theda Yager

When I was nine years of age, my father moved our family from Texas to a farm in Arkansas. I was very interested in folklore, dialects and old tales of crime gangs of the past. Some seven decades later I tried to tell a story about what might have happened in years gone by as well as covering current fictional characters when a crime wave hit Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
A retired schoolteacher and her public-school age friends attempt to solve the crime that has struck Mulberry Lane.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 15, 2025
• ISBN: 9798385051489

Theda Yager

Theda Yager earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii and a Master of Education degree from Southwest Texas University, which is now Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. She and her husband Donald Yager will soon be married 68 years, have ten grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren. Theda has six other books.

Book preview

CHAPTER

1

M ildred had lived in the same house for over forty years. She and her deceased husband Carl Swearinger had moved into the house when they had first married. They raised a family and now she sat on the front porch swing, daydreaming. Each morning, she sat on the porch when school children were walking past. She knew them all and they knew her. She would call out to various students inquiring about family members. Today she spoke to Gerald. How is your father? Is he out of the hospital? She had taught Gerald’s fa ther.

Mrs. Mildred was a fixture in the community. She knew all the neighborhood gossip and knew the participants. She had taught in public school for forty years. She knew many local families and their family history.

There were times when a student would come walking up the sidewalk and say, I have a problem. Can we talk? Mildred always had time for a child. Students would ask her for advice. They knew she would keep their secrets unless as she would tell them, I cannot keep your secret if you have hurt someone, plan to hurt someone, have broken the law or plan to break the law. Otherwise, my lips are sealed. She also kept snacks in a basket or a platter of steaming hot muffins on a small table. If a child didn’t have breakfast, they knew they were welcome to get a breakfast bar, muffin and/or fruit. Students considered her to be the neighborhood grandmother.

In the afternoon, she would be seated in her usual spot. She would inquire, How was your day? She often had a plate of fresh baked cookies and a pitcher of lemonade on the table. The kids loved to visit with her and to hear stories of kids from other generations—often relatives were the topic. Frequently parents would call her phone and ask if their son or daughter was still at her house.

She often talked about their parents who were excellent students and wanting to achieve and then those others who were mischief makers. The kids were delighted to hear stories about their relatives and especially their parents—if they were mischief makers.

They often asked her for advice. Or, if they were having an academic problem, they would stop by and she would help them with perhaps writing an essay, or a troublesome math problem or history assignment. She encouraged or kindly corrected them just as if they were her own grandchildren. If some of her kids were sick or in the hospital, she would write notes of encouragements.

As she sat swinging on her porch swing, she remembered the beautiful memories of when her husband and children were at home. The struggles, the victories, and the losses.

Her husband was a merchant in town, and she taught at Eureka Springs High School. The hilly, twisty, curvy, tree-lined street they lived on was like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Her fully restored Victorian style two-story home had wide steps leading up to a huge porch which was supported by lovely columns. The porch with gingerbread trim had graceful spindles and white railings. The front of the house had several lead-glass windows. Her mother-in-law insisted that they live in a prestigious area of the city. She strongly insisted that they live on Mulberry Lane with its few stately, beautiful homes of an err long since passed. Her mind drifted to those days of yester-year.

—

Mildred had come home from college for summer break. She was helping her mother with a fourth of July parade when she was struggling to hold a display upright while someone else secured it. Suddenly a male voice said, It looks like you are needing help. Let me hold that for you.

She looked up into the smiling face of a handsome young stranger. She replied, Thank you for rescuing me I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold it in place. Hi, my name is Mildred, and you are?

Hello Mildred, I am Carl Swearinger. I am new in town. My father recently moved here from out east and bought a department store in downtown Eureka Springs. I had been in the military and was recently discharged. Dad offered me a job working for him and here I am.

From that moment on Mildred and Carl were seen together at church and other community events until it was time for her to return to the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville. She would come home on weekends when she could. Carl would go to events at the university when he could. Then there was Easter and soon graduation day would arrive.

After graduation, the relationship grew deeper and soon the couple was deeply in love. He wanted her to meet his parents. Carl said, Mother is from an old aristocrat family, in New York City, from which status was very important. I must prepare you for a deep grueling. In the military we would call it interrogation. She is very proper and formal. My father is more relaxed and easier to get along with. So, be forewarned. She has made up her mind about who and from which family I should choose a wife.

A date was set when the young lady would meet his parents. Mildred was very uncomfortable. Mildred was from a blue collar, hardworking family. Mildred’s family were close and spent a lot of time together. She had three brothers who were constantly hovering about making sure no male friend got out of line with their sister.

Carl took Mildred to his family home. Mr. Swearinger had recently had a house built to meet the specifications of his upper-class-east-coast wife. Her home had to far out class anyone else in that part of town. Mildred’s tension was heightened as she entered the door. The home was large and well appointed. It looked more like a museum than a home. A butler met them at the door and ushered them in. It was not warm and inviting as was her childhood home.

Carl’s mother and father met them in the formal setting room. Immediately Mrs. Swearinger dove into questioning Mildred. She said in a deep throated, polished voice, Hello, da’ling. I am Victoria Swearinger. I must say, you are attractive enough. I look forward to getting to know you. When Carl said he had met someone special I so hoped you would be someone from out east…from one of the lovely old families with status and connections. Exhaling, in an annoying way, she continued, "Oh well… Tell me, what finishing school did you attend? Every refined young lady must attend finishing