Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-02-14
CHAPTER 8

Inere was man WITH HeT. ~
funny looking guy. remember
thinking he was a queer one to be
with such a pretty girl"
"Can you describe him?"
"Can't say can. He had crook
ed nose."
Sonny went limp against O'Regan
She had been so afraid the man would
fail to recognize her.
After leaving the gasoline station,
O'Regan listened as Sonny went on
with her story:
"The hitch-hiker said he wanted
me to drive near the Canadian bor-
der. When we came back near Ma
lone, / thought of wrecking the car.
I kept thinking about it, and he kept
urging me to drive faster. Then it
just happened" she said, explaining
the crack-up of the car.
That afternoon, the search for
Tom continued. They drove over
back roads until O'Regan was dizzy.
Sonny kept telling the story over
and over to O'Regan. Little things
came back. What the man had said
to her. How he had taken her purse
with five dollars in it.
Toward sunset they started back
toward Malone. Sonny was slumped
down in the seat, her eyes half clos
ed. Suddenly she sat up. "This
looks familiar. Tom and I drove ov-
er here several times" Then she
broke down again.
O'Regan went more slowly. Short
ly they came to a cross-road.
"Let's try to the left" Sonny said.
They went on deeper into the woods.
They they came out on a road with
two tall trees on either side.
81 think this is it," the girl said
slowly. Keep going"
O'Regan went on, a quarter of q
mile, half a mile.
at is just around the bend" She
covered her face with her hands for
an instant, then bit her lips to keep
them from trembling. Beyond the
curve she told O'Regan to stop.
"There. Beyond those bushes. Pm
sure"
"You stay here with Thomas"
O'Regan said. He went on into the
thicket and disappeared. They could
hear him moving about. Branches
snapped. Then he. called: Bring
Mrs. Hollister."
With faltering steps Sonny went
with the other trooper. O'Regan
stood beside a still figure covered
with a raincoat.
"Did you cover him up?" O'Regan
asked.
81 begged the man to let me. He
went back to the car with me while
I got the coat"
"That's that" said O'Regan.
Leaving Thomas on guard, O'Reg-
an took Sonny back to Malone.
Sonny was in state of collapse.
She lay down in her cell, tense and
waiting.
Across the hall O'Regan was ar
guing with the Chief: 81 tell you the
girls telling the truth"
you're fool, O'Regan. He was
shot in the stomach, you say. Prob
ably he was driving"
"How could she have got him out
of the car? She's not very big"
"She's wiry and desperation makes
anything possible. Pm right, O'Reg-
.an. I'm getting out a warrant to-
morrow morning"
"You can't!"
"You forget yourself. I'm the boss
here"
81 tell you, Pm right. I've spent
"a hours with that girl driving a
round the country. l know the truth
when l hear it. I'll prove that Pm
right. Let me show her some pic
lures of men just paroled from Sing
Sing"
The chief grinned: "O'Regan you're
a good guy but you're off on the
wrong foot"
O'Regan talked with Kirk later
that night. "I'm sure she's telling
the truth, Mr.. HOLSTER"
"I agree with you"
evil you help make them put of
getting the warrant?"
"Ill do what I can. Just tell me
what you want"
"Go in and talk with the Chief
He'll listen to you"
In the meantime, O'Regan hat
them bring Sonny to him in tn
Chiefs office.
"Now, Mrs. Hollister, I am goinl
to show you lot of pictures. I wan
you to tell me if you can identify an.