“No-o,” Connie admitted, trying hard to remember. “The first two letters were EB--the same as Edith Bailey’s initials. But I can’t remember the numbers. It was a large gray sedan.”
“West.” Of this Connie was certain. “It was headed up the hill and went on toward the country.”
“Highway 20,” said the police sergeant, making notes on his pad. “The girl’s name is Veve McGuire. Address?”
Connie gave that too and then asked the sergeant if he thought Veve could be found. The officer promised to do his very best. He told her the information would be broadcast over the police shortwave radio system and picked up by all cruising police cars.
Connie hung up the telephone receiver and thanked the druggist for the nickel.
“I’ll pay it back tomorrow,” she promised. “Brownie Scout’s honor.”
“Don’t give it another thought,” he replied. “I only hope you find your little friend.”
Both he and the lady customer asked many questions about how Veve had been carried away on the sled.
Connie answered them all as fast as she could and then hurried away home to tell her mother and Mrs. McGuire what had occurred.
She was quite breathless by the time she burst into the kitchen where her mother was getting the evening meal.
“Why, Connie,” said Mrs. Williams in surprise. “Is anything wrong?”
“Veve’s been carried away in a car, Mother!”
Again Connie told about the coasting mishap.
“Oh, Connie!” exclaimed Mrs. Gordon in a frightened voice. “Does Mrs. McGuire know?”
“Not yet, Mother. I haven’t had time to tell her.”
“We must, at once. Though I’m afraid she still may be at work. Oh, dear!”
Veve’s father was dead, and the little girl’s mother worked part-time in a downtown office. During the afternoon Veve’s grandmother usually came in to stay with her, but on this Saturday no one had been at the McGuire home.
Connie had never seen her mother look more worried. She hastened to the telephone and, after making several calls, reached Mrs. McGuire. Next she called Connie’s father, asking him to pick up Mrs. McGuire at her office and bring her home.
“Will Veve be hurt, do you think?” Connie asked anxiously.
Mrs. Williams did not answer. She was in the front hallway putting on her hat and coat.
Ten minutes later Connie’s father drove up in the car. He had made a very fast trip home.