The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-25

pancy Of the owner.
Monnie grew frightened. Perhaps
mother had become ill., had tainted
in the bathroom With fast beat
ing heart she turned the knob. But
that, too, was silent, empty.
It was not like mother to go off
without leaving some word. What
on earth could have happened?
With feeling Of nervousness, Mon
ME put the kettle on to boil, meas
ured tea into the cracked blue-and-
white pot and sliced some bread for
| toast.
She had to be back at the store
within the hour These prepara-
tons begun, she hurried to the
phone. She would call Bill at the
garage. He might be able to solve
the mystery.
"Henol May I speak to Bill,
please?"
Mr.. Harnett's voice, rumbling, in
timidating, answered. Bill? Bills
not here"
Her heart began to race faster.
when will he be back. do you
knoW?"
The voice sounded Sardonic now.
Couldn't say, I'm sure"
Desperately, MOnnie said, 'Mr
Harnett, this is Bills sister-Monica
ODare. Is anything wrong?"
There was an instant's pause =
IDvo o,NC,tcrl, fO,. NHoto,,to +o Io0,-
separately and distinctly, the kissing
of the kettle, the ticking of the
clock, and the thump- thump- thump
Of her own unruly heart.
Then the man at the other end
Of the wire said with infinite DELHI
Grafton: Wrong enough, miss.
There's been some trouble here and
Bills gone along to the station with
Officer Garvan"
"Trouble?' She almost screamed
the word. What sort of trouble?"
But the wire clicked. The con-
nection was broken. She put the
receiver back on the hook and went
back to the kitchen. She stared for
an instant at the steaming kettle
before reaching to turn off the gas.
She detached the toaster, noticing
duly that the two thin slices she
had cut were smoldering blackly
behind the wires. Then she put on
her hat and wandered out into the
street. She hadn't the least idea
where she was going or what she
was to do. Except that Bill was in
trouble and her mother, wherever
she was, needed her.
n q q
TINE police station. Monnie had
Il never been inside it before, in
all her life, in Belvedere, and her
heart quailed now at the prospect
Of entering it's dour portals. She
squared her shoulders and marched
in.
There was big, blue-coated man
at the oaken desk just inside the
door. He lifted an inquiring eye
brow at her.
"Is-is Officer Garvan in?"
''No ma'am."
She knew most OF the policemen
in Belvedere by sight, but this man
was stranger to her. I'm Monica
ODare. Some one-I mean was
told I would find my brother
here"
She knew her face was blazing
and she could hardly speak above
a. whisper.
ooh, them!" The man jerked his
thumb in the direction of a door
just behind him. You can GO in
there if you want to see the young
Teller"
Somehow her tagging feet carried
her across the room, somehow her
fingers turned the knob. She braced
herself for the ordeal. Just inside,
Bill sat, looking dark and angry.
Three men were with him, talking
and gesticulating. And Monies
mother, twisting her handkerchief.
At the sight of the latter, Mon
MES own terror took wings. What
was she here for, if not to bring her
mother strength and courage?
Whatever had happened, her moth
err was not to suffer. Monnie made
her step firm and her voice cheer
full.
What's happened?" she asked in
clear voice.
The biggest man, the one with the
loud voice, turned to stare at her.
Matter enough he announced
belligerently. This young mans
under arrest. Who are you?"