The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-07

CtAAe MhAWAAg settoN
here IN rented car or . cab ~ tc
stay alone IN q shack"
"she wouldn't be AFRAID. OH
hope we're right"
And so do l." breathed TAFT
fervently. III this Is q wild goose
chase we've lost some valuable
time" He looked at the girl be-
side him. And II ever ! find you
were leading me along the wrong
path purposely I'll wiring your
neck with my bare hands"
Anne was not resentful of Tait's
doubt She merely said, "I'm more
anxious to find Myrna than any.
one"
The countryside grew more hilly,
and TAFT had to resort time and
again to the cars second gear.
Were getting near" Anne said ct
last. "There's fork IN the road
Just along here. Take the road to
the left"
In the next quarter Of a mile
Tait's lights picked out the fork,
and his hand pulled the steering
wheel abruptly 10 the left. The road
grew narrower and more rutted.
"Are you sure we're right" he ask
ed, slowing down. This looks TO me
like one OF those roads that peter
into q lane"
Anne was pering through the
windshield. I'm sure this Is the
road. The cottage Is right UP there
on that hill. It." She stopped
suddenly and pointed. Look !
There's q light She's therel"
TAFT increased his speed, Good "
He SCANNED the darker outline OF
hill above them. II don't see any
light. Are you sure2"
POSITIVE. Wen probably see u
again ct the next curve In the
road"
II wonder II we ought TO go the
rest OF the way on foot9' Tat
unused. I'VE might frighten her
out Of the cottage. After oil, she
doesn't know you and are out
here after her"
Anne nodded. "You won't DO
able 10 drive much further, any
how Wen come 10 q fenec.line,
and the rest OF the way Is along
q footpath"
Even as she spoke, the fence loom
cd ahead, and the road ended with
out ceremony. TAFT turned the igni-
ton switch and the lights. "Can you
find the PATH" he said In o low
voice.
Anne was quietly opening the
door Of the car. "Yes. But We
should be able TO soc the light
from here. she must have turned
II out. I couldn't have ben seeing
things back there on the road"
TAFT nodded grimly, and slid out
OF the cor behind Anne, They
started through the blaekness. TAFT
held firmly 10 Anne's arm 10 keep
her from stumbling, but he had 10
let himself DO guided. Somehow
Anne managed 10 follow the path,
A host OF worried thoughts
fretted through Bob Tait's head.
Nothing but the sheereSt sort OF des.
peration, or o mind temporarily uii-
hinged, could have made girl like
Myrna seek this place, And II she
were desperate and that desperation
was caused by guilt, then what
would KEEP her from shooting them
down as they stole along the path
In the darkness7 II she had been
burning O light, o. Anne insisted,
and had extinguished II, then she
must have seen or heard the car
She must know that the cottage was
being sought.
Suddenly TAFT held Anne from
o further forward step. This "a
foolish" he whispered. There's
no telling what that girl may do
next. You'd better let her know
who you are"
Anne nodded. There In the
darkness she called Myrna'B name
clearly. II echoed and fe.echoed.
But there was no answer from
tho cottage shroudod IN blackness
That's okay,' Tait said, AT least
she knows you're here. She's
probably being cautious, but she
won't DO trying any fireworks
Let's Get going. MY hunch IA that
we've been talking 10 thin cir,
and that the light you saw was
O freely. Anyhow, We"
TAFT stopped, clutched Annes
arm. Unmistakably, there was q
threshing In the brush near the
shack. Yet TAFT was positive that
the door had not opened since the
dwelling had come into their view,
Anne heard II, TOO, and stood back
foarfully against him.
TAFT reached into his pocket,
clutched the revolver he had found
In Myrna's bag. "Myrna Domboy.-"
he called the words suddenly and
clearly. IF that's Myrna Dombey we