The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-24
FLIGHT NORTH CHAPTER VI

Several things happened during the afternoon. It began to snow again and visibility was reduced 10 somewhere near zero. Beano gazed put of the studio window and found It good. He would not have felt so good had he tuned in to the police calls on the radio. He would have heard a message calling all cars asking them to look out for a de- mented unfortunate dressed as Santa Claus. A temporary nervous breakdown was suspected since the man had run from the store clad only in a red robe and his under wear leaving behind him his own clothes and personal belongings. He was to be picked up and brought to headquarters where his mental health would be checked and his belongings restored to him. The stores was pressing no charges against him. having compensated the child suitably and pacif1ed the mother.
 The journey up north was un- eyentful once Beano was in the car. dressed in few last-minute purchases by Benny. Leona sat with Ferdy, who drove through the driving snow praying that the roads would still be open by the time he reached the hills.
 In their several ways each oc- cupant of the car was content. Outside the car the snow covered the fields and fences, roofs and trees. The car cut patterned rutS that grew deeper as the miles un- folded.
 Ferdy's country cottage sprawled over a hilltop miles away from the main road. The driveway wound up from the range road through the woods that surround ed the house on every side. Lights shone from the windows and in- side Ferdy's aunt. who loved the place, was putting the finishing touch to the decorations and to a Christmas tree cut by the farmer that very morning.
 She was a placid soul. but she could never get over fristle of expectation when her eccentric nephew was, bringing up a party She had learned to expect the oldest selection of people and she had never yet been disappointed The first meeting was always something like taking a drink ot lemon juice without any sugar and then finding it had a strong dash of gin in 1t.
 This particular occasion was nc exception. Benny greeted her as though he had known her all his life and had only been prevented by cruel circumstances from spending every weekend in hel company. Beano grabbed hei hand and left it limp and crushed Gee" he said. You got swel training camp up here. Look al that fire in de fireplace. look al da window. bet you could set 50 miles from there if it wasn't showing. How do we get out O. this dump if it keeps on snowint for a week?"
 That was a remarkably loni speech for Beano and showed tha he was impressed with the place It was a much longer speech thal that of Leona, who was so relieved to find that in such a lonely spo she was going to be adequatel! chaperoned, that she said nothing at all.
 Ferdy and Benny changed int ski clothes to walk down to tn farm on the property, which hal been taken over by a friend O Ferdy,s aunt as hostel for chil guests from England
 Ferdy's idea was that the should all be asked up to his plac for a party later in the week, an Benny agreed that 1t was goo idea. Benny was feeling gooc like his ski suit.
 This is the life for me" h said. How them fellers can stan the city. give me this every tint that's the life for me. have cigar. no? If all them trees wa money you wouldn't get me bac to New York, not for a miilio dollars. no sir, have cigare then, no?"
 He said a lot more but Ferd didn't listen. He liked his guest to enjoy themselves.
 Tn the house on the top or th hill, Leona. who was not A outdoor girl. curled on the grea settee in front of the fire. 5h was an assiduous reader Of th movie magazines and knew ex actly how to curl glamorously q any comfortable seat in any pos Like a eat in repose she could re msin auxlsa without moving en