The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-10

III SlSllI, III any NAACSOAOh' AAS AAAA no wish to repeat his Boston error, and was thankful he had asked about Peace's dress. He ran back
 into the station, hurried through crowds to the train gate.
 A porter came panting up. Lord, suh, that chile ain mo- where. An done search the whole train, baggage cyar an all"
 Denny bumped into Mrs. King, who'd heard the news and was doing her bit with Carole. Hes disposed of her! I was right, tell you!" he heard her hiss. Wait till I tell MT. Ogden!"
 Helter-skelter, flying around in circles. Some passengers were al- ready going back to the train. Denny raced down to the plat form. He'd do what he should have done in the first place-find the conductor and put 1t up to him to hold the train. But first he'd take another look. There was just chance she'd fallen asleep in one of the seats and been over- looked.
 He was passing by the compart- ments when he heard a shrill child ish laugh, "Peace!!! Honey, where are you?" He pounded on the near est closed door, stuck his head in the open ones. "Peace!" He tried the door of a drawing room. Locked! He shook it and pounded again. "Peacep
 "-I am, Uncle Denny" The door was unlocked, and Denny thought he'd never seen a guiltier looking pair. He snatched the child, feeling his temper rise.
 Gosh, I didn't know that door was locked" ogden said. "She must have turned the key. Come" he gestured towards the wash bowl, "see our turtle pond. The baby and I were just giving Darby and Joany bath"
 MT. Hogden's gonna buy me a goldfish to teach my turtles how to swim better" Peace beamed.
 Denny didn't know whether to knock the man down or believe it. He seemed so inoffensive and apologetic about the whole thing well, Peace wouldn't get away again.
 Gosh, I'm awful sorry about this-you must have been anxious. I meant to get of at Kansas City myself, but when l came back to my stateroom and found the kid, well, I got fascinated with the turtles aquarium, I guess. Sup pose there's time to mail some let ters before the train-?"
 "All abo-o-o-o-oardp
 Denny heard the conductors cry. Heavens, Rhoda and Carole would be frantic! He yanked Peace down the steps and waved to Carole, still on the platform. 'okay! Here she is. Where's 
 Rhoda was in her seat, quietly when they hustled up. T can't stand much more of this. If you don't spank her, I will"
 Denny explained how she'd just been playing with her turtles. "She minded me and didn't get off the train." Later he whispered to Peace to ask if she really locked the door.
 "What door the child wanted to know, and Denny boiled. He to a small box, punc- tured with air holes and tied with a string. Doesn't hurt their toes,' Peace explained. T like MT. Hog den. He's gonna buy me a gold fish and a big glass bowl, when we get to Lost Angels" She must never, never go into that drawing room again, unless he or Aunt Rhoda or Carole went too, he told her.
 "The trips only two-thirds over and I'm a nervous wreck" Rhoda said. Why, I didn't even see the peace monument Bertrand told me to look at."
 Was it named after me?" Peace asked. The laughter broke the tension.
 Caleb Ogden approached their seat. Join Mrs. King and me in bridge? We can have a nice quiet game in my compartment, and you can keep an eye on this young lady while she gives Darb and Joany an- other swim"
 Denny hoped Rhoda would re- fuse, but she jumped at it. "A bit of sunshine on a dull day. Come on, Denny" To play cards with ] man whom he'd like to throttle (but maybe he was wrong, and anyway Rhoda didn'ct know) and ! woman who'd insulted him all he way from Boston, wasn't his dea of bliss. But if Rhoda would get over her gloom it would be worth it. Perhaps he'd get line ,n ogden.
 Mrs. King apparently did - nook, line and sinker. She de- 'oured Caleb's pep talk about his 'ich oil wells, and broke up the game to look at his pictures. Oh, ]