The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-02-01


maculate. The man beside him WAS
frankly tired, wind-hurned, and as
dusty as the car.
His round face was shining red
and his sandy hair stood On end.
They stopped beside Jan The
driver called. rs this the way TO
Hollymount ,"
She looked them over. Not a
direct route. Did you miss the
main road ?"
IF we did" said the young man,
taking off his hat and running his
fingers through his hair, ~ haven't
the faintest desire TO 30 back to 1t.
Doesn't this road go anywhere ,"
She laughed Eventually. Just
as far as Hollymount. It's pass
able"
Not IL II gets any worse
The other man shifted large
camera from his lap 10 the seat
between them and groaned Look
here. Steve. why don't you ask her
right out. Maybe she knows some
thing about this wild-goose chase"
We'll :" Steve hesitated All
right. Would you happen to know"
he asked Jan. If Peter Carolus
Van Vliet III is at his ancestral
mansion Otherwise. Hollymount."
Jan froze. Her hand pulled the
rein Involuntary. and the horse
jumped. Jan quoted her, then
said. If you're looking for him,
you might a. well 60 back to New
York. He's not at Hollymount.
She wheeled the horse around
and started up the path alongside
the stream. Hey. wait a minute"
called the sunburned man. Steve.
don't let her get away Maybe she
knows something"
Don't know what we can do
about 1t If she does" said Steve
gloomily. There she goes"
Fifteen minutes later, Jan pulled
UP AT the Hollymount stables. Her
smooth blond hair WAS ruffled and
she was breathing hard as she
jumped off and gave the reins to a
colored groom who WAS lounging
outside. Take care of her. will you
Freeman >" she said hurriedly.
Riding crop brushing the gravel
OF the driveway. she ran along the
rose hedge to the lodge at the gate
of the estate.
The lodge Was called pewer
House. for IL WAS here that ths
first Christopher Holly brought hi,
bride while the big house on tn,
hill above WAS being built.
Now it Was about $50 years old
its brick worn pink under the ivy
II nestled under the csdsrs by tn,
gate, dwarfed by the trees and b,
the great brick entrance whicl
Robert Van vliet, Peters father
had built when he bought and mod
ernized Hollymount Is years age
In il lived Jan and her father
Bob Macleod. manager of the es
tate for its absentee owner.
The girl entered quietly. Tn
room was half-dark. with lat
sunlight seeping through the lead
ed panes under heavy. oak rafters
She peersd anxiously into the dusl
turning on n table lamp near III
door.
An afghan had been throw
. aside from a couch opposite III
, fireplace and Was trailing on IN
floor.
Then she saw her father, thi
and small in faded blue bathrob.
|, standing at the old-fashioned wa
telephone.
kidnapped he WAS saying. Blu
Mr. Van Vhet. that's not ="
Jan took the receiver from hi
hand. 'I'll take IL. Dad Lie dow
again. Hello. Mr.. Van yliet. hi
Is Jan"
"oh. good said the thin voic
at the other end of the wire. jar
Peter has been missing from HI
classes at Harvard for ten day
No one has seen him. He isn't wit
any Of his friends. The police thin
II may be kidnapping
Nonsense, said Jan clearl,
Hes disappeared before. yo
know"
Not this long. I'm worried. Jsi
The police are on II. but I happene
to think he might have come up ,
Hollymount Wen :. here's WIN,
! want you to do. II he turns U
let me know Immediately. And ts
him :" the voice trailed off ar
came back q little thickly. "ts
him it's all right. no matter wh,
trouble he's gotten into this tim
Tel him it's all right. Jan. just /,
long as we find him.
Jan hung up slowly. Her faith,