The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-12
Marie Loses Her Job

you think the Molly is now?" he
asked.
Bout Spuyten Duyvil If she
made time" was the laconic reply.
Dan was in his roadster and
shifting the gears before the man
had all the words out Of his
mouth.
There's a road that follows the
Hudson all the way down, isn't
there?" he cried to the dockmaS-
ter.
Eyes, sir. You can't miss it if
you keep the water in sight"
Luckily for Dams life, the high
way was practically clear of traffic
when he nosed the car into the
river road, settled down in his seat
and stepped on the gas.
1t was a foggy morning and he
hadn't slept all night, but that
didn't bother him. In fact, he felt
exhilarated. As long as he was in
action he could deaden the hurt
in his heart.
Humming a tune, he whizzed
through villages shaving sQuawk-
ing chickens tails with the rim of
his wheels, spinning precariously
past farmers drayS and driving
infuriated pedestrians of the road.
1t was his Irish luck, he told him.
self, that saved him from the cold
eye of motor cop.
ct lNn 01a NJ ha
river, ribboning its leaden gray
course between the rolling banks
of the Hudson Valley. Save for
an occasional small tramp steamer
or flock of barges nosing north
ward behind their tug, the river
was clear. The traffic would come
further down. But it was past
noon and he'd reached the Hen
drick Hudson highway before he
saw any tugs headed south and
then, not one lowed a barge. Had
the Molly sunk, was it forced
ashore further up or had it made
the canal terminal, he asked HIM
self.
It was after 4 when he parked
his car by the hot dog stand at
Pier Six.
Back again, I see," commented
the hot dog man, as Dan climbed
out of his roadster. He eyed Dams
dinner coat and waved hand In
the general direction of the canal
boats. She got in early this
morning."
Dan grinned, too relieved to see
the Molly S green shutters to
speak. "Everybody's safe?" he
finally inquired.
why not?" demanded the hot
dog man.
But Dan didn't answer. He was
already running to the La Porte
barge. A crowd Of children gath
cred on the dock near the Molly,
attracted by the noise he made as
he hammered on the closed hatch
way. Fascinated by his dinner
clothes, they stared silently.
Nobody home" a small boy
ventured finally.
Where are they?" yelled Dan.
'Marie's gone to work. Her pa
and ma left just after"
Dan reached in his pocket.
Frank relief spread over his face
as he scrambled back. "You kids
buy yourselves some lollypops,
he cried. IF you see Marie La
Porte before I do, tell her I've
been looking for her"
He walked back to the hot dog
stand. why did the Molly re-
turn?" he asked the man.
Leak" He tipped a hot dog on
the griddle. Bats mad as a wet
hen. He's gone to get repair
crew."
Mrs. La Porte go along?"
mo. She's over on Broad
Street, marketing. Had her shop
ping bak on her arm"
Dan smiled. "And Marie's gone
to work?"
The hot dog man became eau
tious. II didn't ask"
AS Dan was climbing into his
roadster a car whirled up and two
men, one carrying a camera,
jumped out.
There's young Donovan him.
salt, wearing Tux at in the
afternoon" the photographer
shouted, focusing his camera.
Both ran toward Dan.
"This is luck, Mr.. Donovan" the
other began. I'm Larkin of the
Looking Glass. Is 1t true that you
and Marie La Porte are :"
The camera clicked.
What do you Think" Dan
stepped on the gas.
The doorman at Varnet's looked
twice but asked no questions as
Dan, hatless and In dinner jacket,
stalked through the main entrance
at mid-afternoon.
II want to see Miss La Porte,
Dan told bewildered floor-walker
in the made-to-o department
Tell her Mr.. Daniel Donovan is
here"