The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-08
On The Trail Of The Kidnapers


 childl Nonsense. She wouldn't fall for a thing like that. Or would she?
 Anyway, it was too good to miss. Denny was no eavesdrop- per, but this might be serious. He could picture Carole's honeyed head bending over the newspaper. "Five-year-old girl Kidnapped from Fall Riverl" shrilled Mrs. King. "There you arel I heard the news boys shouting it, yesterday morning, but didn't conect it with this until afterwards" She read on: Last seen by playmates, talking to a strange man who offered her candy sticks"
 Now, Denny thought indignant ly, he would not dare give Peace that little jar. He leaned forward to hear more clearly.
 ". description obtained from children, the police are looking for man about 24, medium height, medium weight, sandy haired, with glowing dark eyes. He wore a brown coat Surely you'll admit the brown coat. Miss Love. Why, 1t all fits like glove"
 "The glowing dark eyes fit," Carole said. But the rest is ab- scurd. That picture doesn't mean thing-taken when this what's i her-name was 9 years old. Be- sides, this is a Gwendolyn Kelly. The kiddy's name Is Peace"
 Says who! Says they. Did you ever hear of baby named Peacep Did you?"
 "The little girl answers to it." Carole defended stubbornly. ,:"They're taking her to see her grandmother in Los Angeles. I got that much out of her"
 Sure you did. Had to have some sort of story, didn't they? But she's afraid of that Lowell dame, poor little soul. The grand mother is probably one of the gang too.'
 The old busybody - trying to poison Carole's mind! Sicked her to pumping Peace and dogging his steps. He'd have to put a stop to it, but how?
 Why should he explain he was not kidnaper2 Just because one was on the loose in Massachu- sets? Just because he'd inadver- tently picked up the wrong child in the depot? That pest needed a lesson. He grinned and went out as he had come, unobserved. He would stop Mrs. King before she gummed up the works and had him arrested.
 Back at his section, he donned hi. cameps hair coat, pulled his hal over his eyes, stuck hand in his pocket over the tin covered candy jar, and hoped he looked like z bandit. Luckily, the forward part O. the car was screened by several cur. tained sections. He hored there'd b, no aftermath to the little scene.
 Stalking up to the two women bending over the newspaper. ht pushed forward the glinting meta and whispered hoarsely, Don you novel" T hen, as Carole' head went up and Mrs. Kini slumped back staring, he sa down on the opposite seat, Jerk ing at his pocket
 "Mercy!" The beady eyes bulged
 "Quiet! Don't either of yo, make a noise. Now give me tha paper" He glanced at the head lines briefly. The photograph might have been anybody's baby Then he laughed. Look - this 1 the stick of candy I enticed tn Kelly child with. Only you'll not this hasn't been opened. Nov what's all this nonsense you'v been telling Miss Love? I deman an explanation and an apology.
 Mrs. King swallowed. T sa, what I saw, and I heard what heard. A whole crowd chased yo onto the train"
 T lost Peace, and in finding he, picked up the wrong child"
 "Is 1t likely" Mrs. King aske : Carole, "hed be put in charge o girl he didn't know any bette than that? The child told me her self you were just an Old Mar She had never even seen you un til-"
 : That's true. Her father hap pens to be employed in the sam office with me" Denny felt him self growing hot under the collar T do him favor and get mis taken for a crook" He fished i his pockets for one of the firm cards. Nothing there. He'd emp tied his pockets, he recalled, be fore leaving home.
 How do you explain this? Mrs. King showed him the crum pied telegram. Sounds brett flshy to me, the whole thing"
 Denny felt he wasn't doing s we'll, after all. Not that he care a boot what this pest thought c him; but with Carole sitting ther silent!
 I'm sure he can explain it, MT. King" Carole now spoke up. "I you'd asked the Western Unio whom it had been sent to, tha