The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-01
CHAPTER

LILLE wac
stormy entrance and alarm spread
over her face. 49,.
Fabienne was wiping her face with
a towel, tucking her uncurled hair
under her hat, fastening the collar
of her coat under her chin. Have
Won got a pencil and paper in your
handbag, Chris?" she asked ex-
citedly.
Chris said she thought she had,
and tumbled it's contents on the
blanket. A roll of banknotes, a
crumpled handkerchief, a ring OF
KEYS. a ieweled compact n a liz
stick fell out. She shook her head.
"Can you imagine not having even
q piece of paper and a pencil?' Fa-
bienne sad. She tore a piece off an
old charcoal bag. "Give me your
lipstick, Christ"
L"Wh-what are you doing, Fab!'
Silently, Chris handed it over.
81 think I've found a way to get
out of this jam without bringing
the police down on our necks. Do
you feel equal to keeping things
going until I get back?'
Eyes. What are you going to
do?"
"I'll tell you when it works. If
it doesr' Fabienne flung over her
shoulder.
It was easier walking on the firm
snow, pressed down by the plow.
She was glad now that Chris
hadn't Weakened her when the plow
went through. If she'd known it
was there, she would have asked
for a ride On it, gone into the VII
iage and telephoned Bill.
Only now did she realize the folly
of that. The police would be watch
ing Ellen and Bill and Nicky, having
surely discovered that they were her
friends, and the first with whom she
would communicate.
ooh, yes, this was far the better
way, if only it would work. 1t was
an inspiration! 1t had to work!
The other way she would have
got Dill llllO Tie jam GIu oiS "ootN
have regretted that more than n
other thing in this whole nightmare.
What would Bill and Ellen think
of her now, she wondered, trudgins
on over the snow in the erie half
light of morning. 1t was only seven
o'clock and the world was asleep.
Every muscle, every nerve in her
cried out for the comfort that she
believed Ellen was enjoying at that
moment.
Seven o'clock struck on the chimes
Of the grandfather clock in Ellen's
apartment. She rose from the divan
on which she had been keeping
watch since midnight beside the ra-
dio.
She slipped her feet into felt slip
pers and went into the kitchen to
fix breakfast for Bill.
He appeared at the door of Fa-
bienne's room, rubbing sleep from
his eyes as she came back "Any'
thing YETI" he asked.
DIG olOOk iCl LCoS' AWNING
but the milkman's serenade."
You'd better catch some sleep.
1 can stay until nine"
"Nicky's coming at nine. He'll
stay until I've had a sleep. Then
he'll come back tonight"
'Tn take the watch tonight.
Sorry I popped off that way,
youngster. I'd been up all night the
night before with a couple Of acct
dent cases after 1 left here"
That's all right, Bill. I couldn't
sleep anyway. Surely something
will break today.
"Sure!"
Bill turned the dials up.
They didn't look at each other.
A mans voice, %unbearably cheer
full, said, "We'll start the day with
a rousing song"
Shut it off, Bill" Ellen told him.
There isn't any news until eight.
I think I'll go crazy if l have to
listen to any more cheerful voices.
Do you suppose it's too early to
call Maryland AGAIN."
mot much point to it. Willough.
by said he'd ring up if there was
any news"
q" can't believe it, Bill! It's Fa.
blenne who's been kidnapped; Shed
never do a thing like THAR
Il know" he said soothingly.
Finish that breakfast and get in
there to bed"
Ellen didn't want to go to sleep.
She wanted to talk to Bill. But
they'd been talking for two nights
and there was nothing more to say
They'd talked to the police, to the
federal men and to Larry Parsons
who was nearly out of his mind-as
they all were. Three ghosts of PEG
pie, with yes dark from lack O.
sleep and hearts heavy with anx-
iety.
"How in the nam Of heaven coulo
the earth open UP and swallow three
people?" Ellen walled.
"They aren't swallowed. They'r,
hiding some place."
Hiding! There isn't any place fol-
them to hide"
"Now, now, Ellen, you know tina
you could hide right here in New
York, if you wanted to-"
Maybe I could. But Fabienn,
and Mrs. Parsons and a sick chill,
can't! Oh, Bill, I don't believe tina
those three went off alone. Mayb'
the elevator boy who told that fan
tastic story about Fabienne's say
ing that you had discharged tn
child is one Of the gang that kid
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