The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-06
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

eyes. It was as if they were flying
.along in the summer night.
What a wild goose chase" she
said, as if to herself. Waynesboro
Miss Anstice had said that Kay
was on the way to Waynesboro, but
'Swasnt it quite possible that the man
had thrown that question out at the
filling station merely as a decoy?
Wasn't It just as reasonable that
. Kay was, at this moment, speeding
westward instead of taking the. east
erly road Charles Eustace's car was
travelling?
Poor Kay, foolish little Kay! She
Sought to have known what was 60
in On-ought to have watched her
more closely. She had been, Monnie
reprOached herself, too utterly abb
-sorbed in her own affairs to see
where Kay, in her impatience and
discomfort, was drifting.
TITS my fault" she broke out,
rather incoherently, to the silent
sman beside her.
That's nonsense" His dark pro-
file was grim in the faint light of
the instrument board. And any
how, nothing's happened yet. Well
.ehave her safe and sound in an hour
or two" Eustace spoke with a con-
fidence he was far from feeling.
Monnie sat tense every nerve
stingling with the excitement of the
chase. High FallS-a scattering of
lights-and then the open road
again. White arrows pointing the
way at the crossroad-turn here for
Waynesboro-that was all right
they had taken the right turn.
Charles slowed each time they
passed car and Monnie stared
eagerly, expectantly, into the faces
of the occupants. The vehicles
= were fewer now, and farther be-
tween. The main road forked at
the Waynesboro turn. This was
virtual detour, rutty and narrow.
1t was madneSS-madnesS
girl told herself, to thrash about
In this way.
. What they should have done
at once-WaS to have given Kay'S
description to the local police. They
had a system of radio alarm that
swas wonderful, she had heard. But
no-no-that would mean that
Kay's adventure would be broad
cast to the waiting world!
Il couldn't do that to her." Mon
HE groaned inwardly.
They plunged through Newton
Center, a hamlet of some half
dozen scattered houses. Charles
cnghted a cigaret without taking his
eyes from the road. Monnie, strain
ing her gaze ahead, was conscious
of a sudden squirt of energy in the
smotOr.
THAT car ahead" Charles told
her. I've had it's tail light ever
since the Falls. It's turning into
a lane. Suppose we stop and take
a look"
ITS probably some farmers
dooryard," Monnie said despair
. ingly.
TINE winking red light disap-
i peared for an instant, reap
peared again. Charles was slowing
~his engine now, its powerful roar
muffled so that the sounds OF in
sects. of whirring crickets and
croaking tree frogs could be heard
:. Monnie realized the car they
we're trailing had stopped. Before
she could speak, the man beside her
had put on the brakes, was sliding
out of the seat.
you stay here" he said in re-
assuring whisper. I'll do the talk
ing"
Monnie was trembling with ner-
NouSneSS now. She had to grit her
teeth together to keep them from
chattering. She watched Charles
tall figure striding purposefully
away from her. In the car ahead
She could just see the outline of two
heads. A womans, shawled. A
mans.
She wanted to call out to Charles
60 come back-to hurry. They must
be on their way. 1t was folly to
waste even a few minutes trailing
some surly farmer who would. like
as not, resent with blows their in
terest in him.
In the bury mist the headlights
=, made, she could see Charles drap-
' ing himself casually over the fender
of the car. She could not hear what
he said, but presently he came back
looking rather disguised.
Some idiot of drunken yokel,"
he said disguStedly. His wife'S
asleep. I couldn't get anything out
of her. What luck My bunch was
a rotten ONE"
Monnie was sick with diSappoint-
ment. She hadn't really expected
anything of this chance clew. They
were searching for a needle in a
haystack, she reminded herself. She
smust keep up her courage.
Tell you what We'll do" Charles
said in hearty tone. Well push
on for Waynesboro and inquire at
, the hotel there. If they're stopping
any place tonight it will be there.
It's the only decent place for miles
around"
They wouldnst-Kay wouldn't
Monnie Stammered.
"Kay's going to be all right Don't
you worry about that" the quiet
=. voice told her.
The young man beside her started
his engine, which purred dutifully.
and the car began TO slew about on
the slippery road. There had been
heavy rains the night before. The
wheels whirred uselessly for a mo-
ment in the mud and the brakes
groaned.
Nasty place!"
y
TINE engine killed, Sickeningly.
l. Monnie felt her palms wet and
L. nl,nnlrr hot Thu. rrrnc nu.fl,1