The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-28
ICE GETS WARM CHAPTER VIII
BY EDMUND FANcoTT


 Myra set of down tho road tt
 d(e farm with Benny, Every nov
 md then she cast on eye at Benny
 1pnderful clothes, They were mag,
 iiilcently new and eolorful, per
 'ect tn every respect, md the only hing that really didn't flt in witt them was Henny's face. Luckily q big cigar kept that part of him ir puffing cloud of smoke and eased the contrast.
 Myra had hoped Fcrdy would be with them but when she had asked Ferdy if he was coming Ferdy had grlnned and said he was going to ski to meet Moss and Fay.
 This iS the life, for me-" said Benny blowing Q cloud of smoke Look at it real snow. real Christ mas trees growing all around you Just like lt says on the Christmas cards, Did you ever sec anything Ike it? Here it is, the day after Christmas, and I feel as if I'd like Co stay until Next Christmas" :"
 Myra was thinking of the men who had called at tho studio.
 You're sure Beano's as dumb aS lse lookS7" she asked,
 "SufeW Benny laughed "Beano's dumb all right, dumb as they come unless he's got brain, someone elses brain behind him oil the time"
 And you're his brainP"
 That's me, when take the trouble. If there's dought In him, it's pie that gets 1t out" F take 1t there's dough in him right now7"
 z. Myra turned to sec the result of her ehot in the dark She saw a sudden swift suspicion cross Ben ny's face. He wondered if Beano had been blabbing about the dia. fiionds.
 Hes been talking, ehp"
 "Talklng2" asked Myra inno. gently. Sure he's been taking"
 About the snow or abou. tho ice?' Benny's words were eau. hous.
 Myras face revealed nothing to aim. It did not take much to put wo and two together. Something Il the way he had said snow first .nd Ice afterwards made her real. lac the emphasis was on the ice and she remembered 1t was also the word that gangsters always used for jewels.
 s' She wonderrd. There was just h chance. If it were right, then fpe whole cray pattern fitted into something that made sense. Beano up in Canada, placed by Benny in the store as simple device to avoid suspicion. Beano running from the store. having seen and having been recognized by one of the men who had called at the studio. Then the anxiety to get up north and the men and the police chasing him. It fitted into 2 very uncomfortable thought. She liked Benny and hoped he hadn't got mixed up in any jewel theft. 7 Benny had no idea that Myra,s shrewd suspicion had pieced so much together on So little but he vas worried by the thought that Bcano might have spilled too much.
 That night after dinner Ferdy and his aunt organized the party for the boys from the farm. Everyone was kept busy except Leona, who showed distressing tendency to hover around every. one else. as if to help, but did nothing.
 Beano every now and again turned to catch Leona's eyes and smile at her. Benny noted with concern that. when he did, she re- sponded with slow and laneuor- ous smile. He was watching for a chance to get hold of Leona when Beano wasn't around. Myra noted quite casually that there was a play be. tween Leona and Geano. She knew she would get nothing from Leona but she was waiting for a chance to get hold of Beano when Bennv wasn't looking. She liked to get things straight in her mind.
 The opportunity came when Ferdy asked her to bring some things in from the kitchen and asked Beano to help her. Beano was full of willingness and Benny watched him 90 out and slipped into the settee beside Leona. Look at it. he said, pointing st the Christmas tree. "Ain't that } beauty7 Wait until those kids