The Detroit tribune., 1942-07-04

There was none. He went to his
room and lay on the bed. Well;
here he was now. What would
happen? The room was quiet. No,
He heard something. He cooked
his head, listening. He caught
faint sounds OF pots and pans rat
Ting in the kitchen below. He got
up and walked TO the far end Of
the room; the sounds came louder.
He heard the soft but firm tread
OF Peggy as she walked across
the kitchen floor. She's right un-
der me, he thought. He stood still.
listening. lie heard Mrs. Dalton :
voice, then Peggy's. He stopped and
put his ear TO the floor. Were they
talking about Mary? lie could not
make out what they were saying.
He stood up and looked around. A
foot from him was the door OF the
clothes closet. He opened It: the
voices came clearly. He went into
the closet and the planks squeaked:
he stopped. Had they heard him?
Would they think he was encop-
ing? oh! He had an idea, He got
his suitcase and opened II and took
out an armful of clothes. II any
one came into the room It would
seem that he was putting his
clothes away. He went into the
closet and listened.
"....You mean the car stayed out
all night in the driveway"
Yes; he said she told him 10
leave 1t there"
II don't understand this at all"
"Oh, she's all right. don't think
you need worry"
but she didn't even leave a note,
Peggy. That's not like Mary. Even
when she ran away TO New York
that time she at least left a note"
Maybe she hasn't gone. Maybe
something came up and she stayed
out all night, Mrs. Dalton"
But why would she leave the car
out?'
Il don't know"
"And he said a man was with
her?"
1T was Jan, think, Mrs. Dali
ton"
JAM"
Eyes; the one who was with
her in Florida"
"She just won't leave those aw-
full people alone"
He called here this morning,
asking for her"
called here?'
"Yes."
And what did he say?"
He seemed sort OF peeyed when
told him she was gone"
What can that poor child be up
to-? She told me she was not see
ing him any more?"
Maybe she had him call, Mrs.
Dalton :"
What do you mean?"
"WelI. man, was kind OF think
ing she's with him again. like
that time in Florida. And maybe
she had him to call to see II We
knew she was gone. go"
"Oh. Peggy"
"Oh. I'm sorry, nam. Maybe she
stayed with some friends OF hers?"
But she was in her room at two
o'clock this morning, Peggy. Whose
house would she go to at that
hour?"
Mrs. Dalton, I noticed some
thing when l went TO her room this
morning.
"What?"
"Well. Nam. II looks like her bed
wasn't slept IN at ALL The cover
wasn't even pulled back. Looks like
somebody had Just stretched out
awhile and then got up ="
"Oh!"
Bigger listened intently. hut
there was silence. They knew that
something was wrong now. He
heard Mrs. Dalton's voice again.
quavering with doubt and fear.
'Then she didn't sleep here last
night7"
Looks like she didn't"
did that boy say Jan was In
the carr"
"Yes. I thought something was
strange about the car being left
out in the snow ell night. and so
I asked him. He said she told him
to leave the car there and he sa'f
Jan was in st."
Listen. Peggy :"
"Yes. Mrs. Dalton"
"Listen. just felt around In
Mary's room. Something's wrong"
she didn't finish packing her trunk.
Al least half OF her things are still
there. She said she was planning
10 10 10 some dances IN Detroit
but where Is eheg"
Bigger stopped listening, feeling
fear for the flrst time. He had
not thought that TIE trunk was net