The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-05
CHAPTER xxxr


 With Duncan Hunters depart ufc, Bertha Gibbs relaxed. The fears and uneasiness she had felt for him during his concealment in the house had caused her to be- come almost deranged. For years she had both dreaded and longed for his escape. This terrifying hope had eliminated on tho night when he reached the blue door.
 And now he had gone. Not to live 6 fugitIves existence but to win his freedom, to come back to this house q normal man, with work to do like other men.
 From the hour of Duncan Hun ter's peaceful departure that morning Bertha was never again to be more than loyal old servant who had had enough of loneliness. She had held the fort.
 As for Elaine Chalmers, she spent restless day. Johns indif- ference to her, his criticism of her conduct infurlated her. She trem- bled when she thought of him. Standing before her mirror that day she renewed her vow to con- fquer him.
 "That girls the cause of It." she thought angrily. Well. defeat could be turned into victory if you went about 1t properly. She'd use the little tramp as a means of reach ing John McNeill. "Ill be sympa- thetic.' she decided. T'll join the search"
 She watched for John to return home. Dusk was falling when his car turned into the driveway and she saw him get out and go into the house. Elaine quickly slipped into coat and ran across the lawn.
 He opened the door at her ring. "John," she said in a soft husky voice, Ifs there any news of herr"
 The girls sympathy reached him, as a woman's sympathy will reach any man. He believed her to be ns repentant and concerned as she looked. "Sit down." he urged. "1'll tell you what know"
 They sat together on the old Empire sofa and he noticed how gtrikingly beautiful she was. She had intended him to notice 1t. There was heady. provocative perfume about her that no man could ignore--loveliness at several dollars an ounce. All that had seemed too bright and brittle about her in the morning was softcncd now by the lamp light, just as her voice was softened by her own intent.
 Elaine said urgently. "Tell me all you know, John. I've been ra- ther a little beast. Will you find her. do you think?"
 T believe I will" he answered eagerly. We're on the trail. A Cleveland detective agency checked all the hotels and lodging houses especially the cheap ones - but there wasn't 0 trace. Then they set to work on the theory that some one might have noticed her on the road Tuesday morning. Somebody did. There's garage about midway to Cleveland that re- placed a spent coll for q man named Segwick. It happens the garage owner had to take the mans check for the work and hadn't yet caehed 1t. Segwick's address was on the check, too"
 "Was she with him? ?" Elaine asked.
 We think so." John responded. 'crhe garage people say the woman fin the car was the mans wife. That was brought out when they tried to raise the money between them to pay for the job. The girl with them seemed to be a stranger they'd picked up. The description of her tallies-"
 The telephone rang. John ex- cused himself hastily to answer 1t. Elaine could not hear what he said, but she suspected that he was speaking with a detective.
 "Well?" she asked when he had rat down beside her again.