The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-13

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 "Take it easy, boy" he advised kindly. If it's for ransom they took the girl don't fret. They'll not mishandle her. They'll be wanting your money. They'll re- turn her safe and sound. make no doubt there's a letter at the house waiting, askin' you will you leave the packet at so-and-so's corner"
 If it's only money they do want!" Give groaned.
 Officer McHugh said pacifically. ''I'd be slowin' down a bit now. We're coming into the village and don't know are the lights at Main street workin' this time of night or not"
 Give slowed obediently. A sub urban sedan with young woman at the wheel rattled across the intersection, the driver throwing an annoyed glance at the car whose brakes had screeched so unmercifully.
 Late hours for a woman to be out alone" observed McHugh. Then he clicked his teeth to- gether. Seen that woman some- where" he ruminated. He said to Give. Its a hunch! Follow that car."
 Give. certain that the man had lost his wits but unwilling to lose sight of any clue, however faint, veered about and began to take up the trail of the little dash light, winking up the road ahead of them.
 "She belongs in a gang down by the shore," McHugh said rapidly. They've queer place with a shady name to it. Some strange goings on. hear they've con- nections in the city. We'll just be asking her where she's going"
 The little car ahead had begun to gather speed now that Gives powerful engine had picked up the trail. Maybe she's only a nice girl, getting home late and frightened" Give thought. He ragged at McHugh in his heart. The girls car lodged into a side road. Hard going there." the policeman said. Gan you make it?" She's got a lizzie. It's used to those bogs.'
 "I can make it," Give said, tightening his lips.
 Suddenly the tail light of the car ahead became stationary. Give. realizing she had stopped, bumped up alongside.
 A white, thin-lipped face looked out at them. "Who are you fel- lows" the girl demanded. And what do you want?"
 The policeman continued to stare her down.
 The girl said again, What do you want?" in a thin, disagree able voice.
 Give thought in the split sec- ond before McHugh answered her, Were wasting time. Fools!" McHugh opened the door, climbed out. He ambled casually over to the cheap little car, drawn up there in the glade. He drawled, Just wonderin' where you're go- in this time O night"
 The girl said impatiently, "I've been visiting my cousin over at Rockville Center. I'm just get ting home. You cops"
 Her whining tone sounded in- nocent enough. But the police- man seemed far from satisfied.
 Cousins, eh? This is a fine time to be maxim calls He ran the beam of his flashlight casual ly over the back of the car. He opened the rear door and peered in. There was the usual dusty carpet, the old newspaper, the scuffed metalwork. All seemed disarmingly as 1t should be.
 But McHugh did not, as Give had hoped, signal the girl at once to go on. He said in the police mans authoritative voice, Give me your name and address"
 The girl whined: Mary Pow jeski."
 Live in the Hollow, don't you?" snapped Officer McHugh. She nodded sullenly.
 "Well. we'll just be goin' along with you to make sure no harm comes to you the rest of the way" said the big policeman blandly. The girl made an instictive gesture of dissent before she said, too quickly. too cordially. That's awful kind of you, officer, but you needn't bother. Besides my father will give me Hail, Columbia if he sees that boat you're in drive up. Fact is," and here she laughed ingratiatingly. i've were having party over at my cousins and he didn't want me to go. If you fellers follow me home he'll be sure to wake up."
 Give was drowning. The girl seemed all right. Why didn't. McHugh let her go and be done with 1t? Give was frantic to be away, to be once again on the trail of the lost Laine. But Me- Hugh was saying now in 8 voice of honey. "We'll just go along with you then anyhow" He ges- tured to Give. Leave the bus there." he said. "I'n be safe enough"
 The girl threw him an angry glance. "I'm telling you," she said, q know this place as well as do my own back yard. You're wasting your time."
 McHugh parked. "Shut your trap and drive on. And mind you take us where you were goin' the first place or it'll be the worse for you" He showed his gun, blunt darkly gleaming object into view. Give had by this time locked the car and was climbing into the back seat of the girls rickety conveyance. Officer McHugh rode in the front seat.
 Silently the ill-assorted trio rode. Give, fuming and half out of his head with anxiety. The policeman dour and watchful. The girl sullenly biting her lips, look ing straight ahead through her red-lipped eyes.
 It was pitch dark. Only the sound of the motor blurred the uncanny stiffness of the night. as the valiant engine of the little car choked and sputtered on an occasional grade. Branches reached out like ghostly fingers, Once chipmunk ran. bright-eyed and startled, into the radiance of A