The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-28

The mans Outnt lnCiuUeS royal DIu day. not knowing how he stood with her.
 They found a car for him. Mar garita's brother had an ancient sedan which would go. Michael knew the make of car. He had driven 1t before. He started out in the full blaze of mid-afternoon with his stout mentor waving to him from the courtyard.
 "Wild goose chase. Margarita," murmured Mrs Houghton, sinking into a basket chair and flaming herself vigorously. "Bht that's what 1t Is to be young, my dear. Bring me some limeade-theres good girl"
 Many times during that after noon did Michael stop in order to let the burning engine cool off slightly. He ragged at the delay, but there was no helping matters. When night fell. he kept on. His Montana days stood him in good stead at this juncture. He was used to empty roads and coyotes howl ing and the arched loneliness of the far-away sky. The desert held no terrors for this man.
 Toward morning he rested lit- tie so as to be fresh for the new day. As yet he had not passed a single car. The Millards did not travel at night, Mrs Houghton had assured him, so he was certain not A IxtA Aa I xuAYtlA have to be abnormally alert to scrutinlze every vehicle which passed him. A touring car it was that Katharine was travelling in; 8 large gray touring car with green wheels.
 Michael drank some of the coffee and ate few 6f the sandwiches Margarita had prepared. He might have to go all the way to the noun tains, in the event the Millards had delayed their start. He must be ready for that. His eyes were blur- red from searching the horizon. Once some Mexicans passed him in q rickety chariot. And there was q shabby car with n California li- cense, with some bedraggled chil- dren in the back seat and shift less looking couple in front. Typical drifters.
 Long past noon he came in sight of three or four dots on the desert floor straight ahead and his heart leaped. But he reminded himself that 1t was idiotic to suppose that every sign of life he saw meant Katharine's party.
 Besides, as he drew nearer, he could see that tho dots were sta tionary. There was car, but 1t was not moving. And there was a tent. No seasoned travellers pitch cd camp in the desert during the day.
 But the car was a gray touring car with green wheels. Michael drew up with a screech of brakes. A middle-aged woman in camp clothes, with signs of agitation in her face. came around the corner of the car and stared at him.
 "Is this, MT. Millard's camp?"
 Ut is!' Amusement in her voice.
 "Is Miss Strykhurst there?" Mi chaels voicessounded cracked and harsh.
 Miss Strkhurst is-Hilda, come here!" called Evelyn Vincent. Mi chael paled. What mystery was this?
 Aeblond woman of 40 with her hair in the widest disorder, her smart riding brooches torn and stained, appeared from the shadow of the car.
 "We're nearly distracted" she began volubly. Katharine must have wandered off while we slept. My husband and his brother have looked and looked. It seems hope less"
 Michael said sharply, Lost? Since when?" No one bothered to ask who he was or why he was there. They told him all they knew. Katharine had been gone since sun-up.- Frank and Dirk had wan dered about calling
 My God" Michael struck his hands together. If he had only started sooner this dreadful thing would not have happened. He thought. in an agony, of his hour at luncheon on the day before. of tho enforced waits during the aft ernoon as the engine cooled.
 Good God!" he repeated. we must do something. A piane-"
 That's what I said." Miss Vim cent began. but Frank wouldn't consent to going or with the car. He said she might come back and would think she'd been deserted--"
 Poor child. hate to say it. but I'm very much afraid we shan't see her again" said Hllda Willard. She began hepelessly to cry.
 Michael shook her arm. ''WheFe can set . plane7" he asked harHhly. "I must flne 0ne at once."
 fIO ile continucdl