The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-02
HALF-ACRE
in E DEN -;

had Dolly, his sister-in-law, ever
visited him or his father = but he
knew the house, O short walk
from the garage, and within few
minutes he had reached 1t.
The doorbell brought no re-
Spouse.
Tony stood on the porch, con-
sidering. He had an imperative
reason for wanting to talk with
Carlo, a reason which must for
ever be kept from their father.
He had TO know whether Carlo
was involved by accident or de-
sign in the holdup Of the restau-
rant.
The scene came back to him -
two bandits at the door whisper
ing; a large pair Of pliers pro.
cuced from the pocket Of one, and
a hand, which reached across the
counter, within inches Of Tony's
face, to snap the telephone wires;
plier with tapped handles, pliers
with "Cs" plainly scratched deep
on one jaw.
He pressed the bell button
again; no one answered. There
was q window on the porch, and
Tony, with q quick look around,
tested 1t. 1t was unlocked.
In a moment he was inside the
house. An hour passed before he
emerged.
It was an hour during which -
even though he mad come here ex-
pressly to see his brother-he lis
tened nervously for the return Of
Carlo or Dolly; an hour during
which nc searched assiduously.
and might have searched in vain
had not al incident Of Carlos
boyhood peeu brought to mind.
In the basement was an old
fashioned trunk, unlocked and full
of odds and ends. In the tray
were souvenirs, papers, miscel-
lany OF rubbish. Lifting 1t out,
Tony removed the burden and
turned the tray over. Pasted to
the underside with strips OF adj
hesive paper were several objects.
Tony tore them of.
A few rings, couple OF
watches, q small roll Of bills.
Just so had Carlo, as child.
once concealed some money stolen
from his mothers purse, and In
the same old trunk?
For some reason which Tony
could not define, tears came 70 his
eyes at the memory. Tears which
he impatiently, angrily, dashed
away as he thrust the stuff in his
pocket, as he replaced the tray
and its contents, closed the trunk
and fed the house. -
Home again, he managed to
read a while to his father and to
pretend cheerfulness. But as soorr
as possible he went to his room
and examined the things that
were burning his pocket. Some
how he must accomplish return
to the owners, whoever they
might be.
One ring he knew, and Its
owner. A ring he had recognized
even as he had 1urriedly retrieved
the stuff from Carlos trunk.
ruby ring In a band of gold worn
thin by many years!
In her Chicago hotel room, Mar.
cha Garfield attempted to close
q door In her mind on further tor.
menting thought OF Frank Ken.
bricks latest flight. For fight II
must hay, been, she knew. The
shock Of meeting John Waddel
had been sufficient, her reason in.
sisted, to send Frank forward on
his uncertain and secret way.
A trif1e grimly, Marcia inquired
by telephone concerning the
schedule Of planes to New York
One was leaving within the hour
She did not bother to telegraph
the servants at home.
Packing her bag. she went down
to the desk. There she received
her bill and went to the cashier s
window. where several persons
waited 10 pay while woman at
the head Of the line caustically
challenged the validity of items
charged to her. Although the others
IL the line were impatient, the man
ahead OF Marcia was coolly putting
the time to use; he had opened q
leather notebook and was industri-
ously sketching startling If some
what exaggerated likeness OF the
angry woman.
Marcia, fascinated by the quick
strokes with which he reproduced
the woman and her temper, watch
ed unashamed over his shoulder
She did not know that he coulc
have guessed her behavior until
without turning, he inquired cour.