The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-28

 than the state debt. Everybody said she was a millionaire, and some said she was a millionaire twice over.
 Certainly Ginger Ella was the ap- pie of her eye. Anybody could see how MT Tolliver dotted on her. It was common talk, and she did not deny 1t. that she had married the minister so she coulud share his daughter.
 Yes, Miss Phil said herself that Ginger was to inherit every cent she had to her name. And then wouldn't the money fly!
 Benito's mind worked slowly but inspiration came to him, but the of laborious effort.
 Inspiration told him instantly that Ginger must be kidnaped and held for ransom, that Mrs Tolliver would gladly pay any sum for her release.
 To get hold of Ginger, who was allowed to go wherever she wished without the slightest supervision. would be child's play. But like all great inspirational projects this was not without its complications. The girl must be Kidnapped, the money pocketed. and the entire episode closed, without the finger of suspicion having bene directed to him. Ginger herself must re- main in complete ignorance of her | abductor. No easy matters these for the slow-working brain of a simple son of the soil. A It could be done, of course; all things werc possible. Benito was somewhat of a philosopher in his small way, and he knew it could be done. Would, alas, that he were one of the master minds of which he stories, to whom details of crime, like it's conception, were born of inspiration.
 | One of the most dangerous ele-s ments of the situation lay in the fact that he and his companions were marked characters, there be- ing so few of their countrymen in | that part of the country, and none of their style and attainments. One of them could not fare forth upon even the most ordinary and inno- cent of errands without attracting the instant and friendly interest of
  This was a pleasant and flattering state of affairs when the errands were ordinary and innocent. but would be a fatal hindrance to the | successful accomplishment of as project as sinister as that he con- templated. It meant that during her abduction Ginger must be con- cealed somewhere within the con- fines of Mill Rush.
 Benito sighed. He realized, of est way out for him lay in lower- | ing her gently into the mud at the bottom of the river, once and for all. But Benito was at heart 8 kind man, and he could not bring him. self to accept so heartless an alter native except as last extremity. Ginger was a nice, bright, up- standing girl. Benito liked her. Both by temperament and by in- clination he was hotly opposed to needless cruelty and bloodshed. His preference in business dealings lay always along the route of kind con- sideration.
 Getting the money from Mrs Tolliver, who had more than she needed and would never miss it, 2 was all in the course of a days work. The forcible retention of | Ginger against her will was to be regretted but a necessary means to the desired end. But at murder. Benito frankly baked - except, of course. in case of direct necessity. v
 Ever since the morning of his arrival at Red Thrush. behind the heath his quick outbursts of jovial laughter and his ready lapse into rollicking song, his mind had worked without ceasing in the ef- fort to untangle the knotos in the problem he had to solve. "Benito," Ginger called cheerily. "come quick and build a new bird nest. There's humming bird down in the honey suckle." Benito shook his great head sadly "Humming- birds don't nest in boxes, Miss Ginger" he said re- gretfully. "They make their love on the wing"
 Come easy, go easy. eh.' sug- gested Bard lightly.
 But l think" said Benito more cheerfully. q think I'm going to get birds in my box upstairs by the window. I had robins up there this morning looking 1t over." | "Robins!" calculated Bard. Why robins are pests. They'll sing you out of your morning sleep
 q like robins," said Benito smugly. If they sing me out of bed mornings. I'll sing them back to sleep again."
 And Benito's the boy that can do it," said Bard laughing.
 "Bard," whispered Ginger, we must do something to attract all the birds in the country. As long as we can keep birds in his houses Benito will never leave us."
 Having provided in every way possible against every conceivable contingency. Ginger was able to an-i ticipate the coming of Speed Roney and his sister with equanimity if not with unmitigated pleasure. That they postponed their coming for al week also helped in her arrange- ments, and gave her ample time to compose her mind to the situation. | (To be Continuedl