The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-11
"suppose he does, I'll never see him

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 She was taken aback, however, when one of the officers reminded her that she must come to the station with them and prefer charges against Neal. In her ex- citement this contingency had not occurred to her. She was grateful when two officers took Neal = thoroughly handcuffed - into the back seat between them, allowing her to sit with the driver.
 The desk sergeant, under the impression that he was facing speeders or roisterers, yawned prodigiously as they entered the room. But a word from the oficer made him sit straighter. He look ed hard at Martha.
 whats your story?"
 Quickly she told him, avoiding Gerry Meals eyes. She began with the day she and Betty got the job with the Airspeed Trailer Company, and showed her letters from Arnold Sloss. She told of Bettys disappearance with Sped- donfi and how Neal had insisted upon accompanying her.
 When she had finished, the desk sergeant turned to Neal. What have you to say about this2" he shot out.
 Nothing" Neal said quietly. T think Miss Britain has told you the whole story"
 The sergeant returned his keen glance to Martha. I'm a little confused as to how you connect up this man with the disappear ance of your friend, but"
 I'm sure he's connected with it in some way!" cried Martha desperately.
 The officer shrugged. We can send out a description of Miss Haynes and this Speddon and the car in which they were last seen. As for this man here, I'll be glad to see that he doesn't annoy you further. There's also the little matter of permit to carry re- volver."
 "T-then I may go?" asked Mar tha, trembling.
 "Yes Brean, take the young lady back to her car, will you?"
 She still avoided Meals eyes, and as she left the room with Officer Brean she half expected to be called back by the prisoner. But Gerry Neal remained silent.
 When she returned to the gaso- line station to reclaim the trailer and coupe she found the burly attendant waiting expectantly. What happened, lady? What are they going to do to him?"
 T don't know" Martha said. At any rate, they're going to hold him and I can go on in peace. How can I thank you enough for helping me?"
 Gosh, that's all right He grinned engagingly. Just part of the company's service, like wash ing the windshield or putting air in your tires!"
 Martha had answered the burly attendants smile, but as she drove out of Eureka and on up the smooth 1 wide highway, she felt little enough like smiling. She had imagined that she would be relieved beyond words to be rid of Gerry Neal with his seemingly misleading advice, and his egotistical palaver as to what she felt for him. But somehow 1t was very lonely driving the little coupe with the trailer swinging be- hind. It was loneliness growing from more than Meals absence from her side. She realized that now she had no advice in the world. good or bad. There was no one now to whom she could turn.
 True, she had the assurance of the Eureka police that an effort would be made to watch fer Sped don and Betty. But the desk ser l geant had been as dubious of her interpretation of the disappear ance as had that exasperating de- | tective, Sloan. What brand of stu pidity was it that made them re- gard her beliefs as coming, from a suspicious and hysterical girl?
 She pressed on toward the bor- der between California and Ore gon. She knew that at the Cali | fornia border would be traffic station, and she could determine whether the Eureka police had really reported to the state patrol. If they had not, then she herself would The California state patrol, was, she knew, an eft1- cient and soldierly body which had brought many fleeing rene gade to the end of his trail. Yet she knew that she was hoping against hope that, if Betty and Speddon were still travelling, they were yet in California.
 When, after long hours of driving, .a,,aSol hand nf YnnInt0jn