sake, do your shop-ping somewhere far away from here, okay?”
I could tell that his concern was as much for himself and his business as ft wasformy safety, so I smiled and thanked him, even though it went against my principles to be scared off in this fashion. But it was another good reason to be out of the city.
The days seemed to drag on while Daniel wrote letters to Ireland and Ifinallyreceived my invitation from dear Cousin Barney Flynn. During that time I tried to lie low, did my shopping, as instructed, over on the East Side, where at least I knew another gang held sway, and read about the Flynn baby kidnapping in back issues of The New York Times. I didn't learn much that I didn't already know. The paper, like the police, had decided that Albert Morell acted alone. But in one paper I saw a photograph of Annie Lomax. She had round cheeks and a fine plait of dark hair over her shoulder—not at all like the skinny wretch who had sat at my kitchen table.
When the day finally came that I could pack my clothes and head for the station, I could hardly wait for the arrival of the cab. I was finally about to fly away from my responsibilities for unemployed Seamus and his two wild children, away from the male complications in my life, and toward earning an honest penny again.
Of course I have to admit I was just a little anxious about what lay ahead of me. I'd been told often enough by my mother and folks at home in Ballykillin that I had the cheek of the devil and ideas above my station. I was about to put both to the test. I had to pose as Molly Gaffney, from Limerick, cousin of Senator Flynn. Fortunately for me, it turned out that the Senator did have a second cousin Molly, of about the right age, among the hundred and some-thing relatives still living in the old country. It was a relief that I could answer to my own name. There was arisk, however, given the Senator’s generosity toward his many Irish relatives, that someone would show up on the doorstep who knew the real Molly and I would be unmasked. Hopefully this time I wouldn't find myself in any personal danger when I explained my assignment—unless the Sorensen Sisters set their spirits on me!
Then, on that hot June afternoon, I was finally on my way. No-body had come to the depot to see me off.
“Youll understand if I don't accompany you to the train station, won't you?” Daniel had said when he came to deliverfinalinstructions the night before. “One never knows who might be traveling by train and it wouldn't do for us to be seen together.”
I assumed this meant that he didn't want word to reach the ears of Arabella Norton, who lived out in Westchester County and thus might have friends traveling from this very station.
“Thus speaks the brave and fearless Daniel Sullivan who assures me his fiancee grows tired of him,” I said, giving him my most withering stare.
He smiled. That wasn't what I meant at all. It was your upcoming assignment that concerned me. If you are supposed to be the cousin newly arrived from Ireland, then there would be no reason why you should be accompanied by a New York policeman, especially one who is known to the Flynns and their neighbors.”
“Oh,” I said, and was annoyed at myself that I had exposed femi-nine weakness. “You're absolutelyright, of course,” I addedforgood measure.
“You'll be allright, won't you?” Daniel asked. “Able to manage your own luggage and all that?”
“Do I look like a weakling?” I asked. “Don't worry. I won't dis-grace you by trying to carry my own luggage. Illfinda porter to manage my valise.”
I glanced up at the valise now sitting comfortably on the rack above my head. Had I only been carrying my own possessions they would havefittedinside the hatbox,- however, Gus had been her usual generous self and loaned me some delicious dresses suitablefora stay at a country house, as well as the valise in which to transport them.
When I protested that I couldn't take anything so
I could tell that his concern was as much for himself and his business as ft wasformy safety, so I smiled and thanked him, even though it went against my principles to be scared off in this fashion. But it was another good reason to be out of the city.
The days seemed to drag on while Daniel wrote letters to Ireland and Ifinallyreceived my invitation from dear Cousin Barney Flynn. During that time I tried to lie low, did my shopping, as instructed, over on the East Side, where at least I knew another gang held sway, and read about the Flynn baby kidnapping in back issues of The New York Times. I didn't learn much that I didn't already know. The paper, like the police, had decided that Albert Morell acted alone. But in one paper I saw a photograph of Annie Lomax. She had round cheeks and a fine plait of dark hair over her shoulder—not at all like the skinny wretch who had sat at my kitchen table.
When the day finally came that I could pack my clothes and head for the station, I could hardly wait for the arrival of the cab. I was finally about to fly away from my responsibilities for unemployed Seamus and his two wild children, away from the male complications in my life, and toward earning an honest penny again.
Of course I have to admit I was just a little anxious about what lay ahead of me. I'd been told often enough by my mother and folks at home in Ballykillin that I had the cheek of the devil and ideas above my station. I was about to put both to the test. I had to pose as Molly Gaffney, from Limerick, cousin of Senator Flynn. Fortunately for me, it turned out that the Senator did have a second cousin Molly, of about the right age, among the hundred and some-thing relatives still living in the old country. It was a relief that I could answer to my own name. There was arisk, however, given the Senator’s generosity toward his many Irish relatives, that someone would show up on the doorstep who knew the real Molly and I would be unmasked. Hopefully this time I wouldn't find myself in any personal danger when I explained my assignment—unless the Sorensen Sisters set their spirits on me!
Then, on that hot June afternoon, I was finally on my way. No-body had come to the depot to see me off.
“Youll understand if I don't accompany you to the train station, won't you?” Daniel had said when he came to deliverfinalinstructions the night before. “One never knows who might be traveling by train and it wouldn't do for us to be seen together.”
I assumed this meant that he didn't want word to reach the ears of Arabella Norton, who lived out in Westchester County and thus might have friends traveling from this very station.
“Thus speaks the brave and fearless Daniel Sullivan who assures me his fiancee grows tired of him,” I said, giving him my most withering stare.
He smiled. That wasn't what I meant at all. It was your upcoming assignment that concerned me. If you are supposed to be the cousin newly arrived from Ireland, then there would be no reason why you should be accompanied by a New York policeman, especially one who is known to the Flynns and their neighbors.”
“Oh,” I said, and was annoyed at myself that I had exposed femi-nine weakness. “You're absolutelyright, of course,” I addedforgood measure.
“You'll be allright, won't you?” Daniel asked. “Able to manage your own luggage and all that?”
“Do I look like a weakling?” I asked. “Don't worry. I won't dis-grace you by trying to carry my own luggage. Illfinda porter to manage my valise.”
I glanced up at the valise now sitting comfortably on the rack above my head. Had I only been carrying my own possessions they would havefittedinside the hatbox,- however, Gus had been her usual generous self and loaned me some delicious dresses suitablefora stay at a country house, as well as the valise in which to transport them.
When I protested that I couldn't take anything so
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