The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-11

T can't stay here alone" she protested. T like the Italian gen. tIemen first rate. but ali the same the Black Hand is Italian and Ben- ny is a poor, helpless thing. don't dare stay here. Mrs Toliiver, just don't dare. was always afraid of the Black Hand.
 Tears of shame and sorrow ran down Benito's expressive face. Miss Jenky." he said. haven't we obeyed your every wish. waited on you, looked up to you, worked our fingers off to please your And this is our reward!" He gulped largely. You think we - killed = Miss Gin ger!"
 "Oh. don't think you killed her!" protested Jenky miserabIy. T don't think you had anything 10 do with 1t. But all the same 1t was the Black Hand did 1t. I'm afraid to live with any Italians at all until we get Ginger back from the Black Hand."
 | My dear Jenky," said Mir Tol- liver, with a mirthless laugh, "this letter is in perfect English and there is no suggestion either of the Italian influence or the Black Hand. It is probably the work of a gang of ordinary American crooks, try ing to pick up easy money. We are not entirely without criminals of our own, you know!"
 But the Black Hand Is always the one that goes around Kidnapping girls and cutting off their hands as Q warning!" she wept
 Well, don't worry" said Phil consolingly. We shall not leave you alone. In fact. I think we should all stay here until the de- tectives come. They will wish to question us all. of course, and I think 1t should be done on the ground where she disappeared"
 As Bard and Eddy announced their desire to 80 immediately to extend the search for Ginger, look ing in old abandoned buildings in the neighborhood and up and down the shore of the river. 1t was Mir Tolliver who suggested they should be armed against emergency, and as Phil wished to send instruc- ti0ns to the servants at Doorndee, 1t was decided that MT Tolliver and Eddy Jackson should go to town at once in Ginger's roadster. while Phil remained with the others at Mill Rush.
 As soon as they had gone, Speed and Bard set out along the shore to continue their search, while Phil and the girls made another ex- haustive exploration of the house. In their hearts. and to their shame, they felt as Jenky did. They real ized that Kidnapping for ransom was more frequently resorted to by for eign than by home-born criminals, and what indeed did they know of the three Italians they had far- bored so intimately?
 It was true that immediately after their arrival. Phil had se- cured their full names and their Chicago addresses and references to whom she could write for informa- tion as to the character of each.
 Phil herself had dispatched let ters of inquiry, and while they were addressed to persons of responsi- bility, bankers, priests, Iandladies, Italian agents and personal friends, she now realized that despite the fact the answers she had received were enthusiastically favorable to each subject, 1t was inevitable that they would give only the names of those known to be favorable and friendly. Indeed, for all Phil could know to the contrary, each refer ence might have been a plant. Yet at each fresh act of gentle deference and kind solicitude on the part of the three men under suspicion, they felt a renewal of regret for what seemed to be un- founded suspicious.
 About two hours later the men returned from town where they had given complete instructions to 0oobins and Hamill and where Eddy had borrowed four pistols, guaranteed to be in good working order, one for each of the four men. MT Tolliver admitted humbly, how ever. that in case of need the most practical use he could make of his would be by throwing 1t at his assailant's head.
 "Oh, wish we did not have to be suspicious Of - them" Phil whis- pered to her husband. They know 1t and feel so badly about 1t. Benito says he will never sing again until she is found. And Pietro keeps water boiling all the time so he will have fresh tea ready for her the moment she arrives"
 T dare say they had nothing whatever to do with it," said MT Tolliver. But they must realize that under the circumstances we are bound to be suspicious of those we know least about"
 At dark the boys returned from their futile search. They had gone by canoe up and down the river as r far as was navigable on both sides of Mill Rush, had carefully explored the ruins of the old mill that lay Q little way upstream. and had broken into the deserted farm house in the woods below. But neither showed signs of recent in- trusion.
 we must just wait" said Phil bravely. Come now. Our good Pietro has supper ready for us."
 With an affection of interest they grouped about the table.
 Seven o'clock" said Eddy Jack son.
 Involuntariiy they sighed. It was the dinner hour Ginger herself had chosen for Joie de Vivre.
 "One reason we are 90 good" she had declared hotly. "is because we have dinner at six o'clock. You can't start e really wild night with dinner at six o'clock. It's so dead ly respectable"
 Now, at Ginger's hour, they sat Arp~ fAA axaA Ah NStAM n Ht