New Britain herald., 1929-06-05

Aloteu SO lAlss lvutJ' SUoO the item to him.
 "Pity the poor devil if they found him." he muttered srimly. Tor ridity was one wild town from what hear"
 Of my feelings that the item might have bearing up the mat. ters which occupied our minds ! aaid nothing. Henry ia intolerant of feelings.
 Pitchfork Canyon. to which we presently came, had lost none of its grim terror, but we managed the ascent without disaster in something under two hours. It was three o'clock when we reached San Felipe. Deacon dropped me at . downtown corner. muttering some- thing about seeing me later. He had been in a gloomy mood ever since we left Torridity and I had attributed it to his bewildered state of mind. Henry had been 70 sure of certain things, regretfully sure, 1t is true. but sure. nevertheless, and our discoveries had shaken his conclusions more than he had ad- mitted. Needless to say. his per plexity had delighted me and I had let him alone.
 Railing a taxi. l settled into 1t. keenly anticipating the joyful re- union before me. I had expected Deacon to insist on driving me home and I was relieved when he didn't, for I wanted the children to myself. My longing for . sight of Lucy's face had become almost a physical ache and I could hardly sit still on my seat. Lucy had come to me as a little thing. but I had never dreamed that she would ever fill my heart as completely as she did. One of these days would lose her. The realization twisted my heart. but I knew I could re- concile myself to 1t. Jerry was a fine lad, too.
 If only Andrew had lived to see the Towering of these young lives! But he hadn't and we had still to clap . rope around the neck of the devil who had killed him. We'll, in little while now. surely.
 began to think of what we'd have to say to one another. Jerry and Lucy and l. What with Jerry's mad flight to Torridity. Lucy's dar- ing pursuit of him. my own experi- ences in the town, and the discov- cries Deacon and l had made in the mine. we'd have enough to keep our tongues wagging until midnight.
 Mrs. Moffit met me at the door.
 Where is Luey?" I demanded, pushing into the house.
 T don't know. MT. Peebles. haven't heard a word of her since went to Circle Sunday morning. Nor. you, neither. Nor MT. Jerry. And what with the house being broke into and your lovely door ruined-simply ruined--and the police doing nothing about it."
 Not here! Not here!" I shouted. Nonsense. woman! Of course they are here!!"
 Indeed they are not!" she wept hysterically. And I haven't seen Miss Lucy since Sunday morning. And what with you going off and the house being broke into and your lovely door"
 Thrusting her aside, I rushed into my den and took up the telephone. Deacon was in his office.
 What have you done with Lucy and Jerry?" l bawled at him.
 They are not here. John." hs said in troubled voice. Il don't know where they are. John. They are not here. The boy hasn't given himself up. We haven't seen either of them"
 hung up the receiver. an empty feeling about my heart. If I hadn't put the instrument down I should have dropped it. My legs began to tremble and collapsed into a chair. They hadn't been seen! Where were they? What had happened? Yesterday afternoon-they had Lad plenty or time! That sandstOrm! Good God! Nonsense! They were safe - somewhere! But where? Why hadn't they telephoned?
 Mrs. Moffit was in the room. She began to weep.
 MT. Peebles.-there's something the matter-Miss Lucy-they have. mt turned up" she was be- ginning.
 l stopped her sharply. There's nothing wrong! The children will be home tomorrow. What have you got for supper?"
 She must have believed me for after sniffle or two she dried her eyes and gave me her melancholy smile
 "A beefSteak pie and A caramel