MOTHER’S FAITH

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13025, 2 May 1940, Page 7

MOTHER’S FAITH

FEELS GIRL IS ALIVE Sydney. April IS. Confident that her daughter Lucy (10) is still alive, despite a baffling absence of six days, Mrs. Brown Craigsaid to-day: “I have no evidence, hut I feel it.” Sitting cn her lavai at Vdoollahra. and overlooking Ruslicutters Ray, the mother showed signs of the tremendous strain she has endured since Lucy failed to arrive home last Friday night. ‘T must he away from ‘the telephone,” she said. “The other, girls are wonderfully good arid brave. They help me in- every way. And so with my son and my husband, Dr. Brown Craig. “Such Matos” “My husband feels Lucy's absence terribly. They were such mates —a beautiful companionship.. Dad was teaching to sail a boat and she was getting on splendidly.” It was through the mother’s speech that it was possible to, build a picture of the missing girl. Lucy had a vivid personality. She was full of life arid yet never wanted more from life than her parents were able to offer her. A sister had. had a trip to England with friends. ' It was to he Lucy’s turn next. Mrs. Brown Craig speaks gratefully of the assistance which Lucy’s friends and schoolmates have extended to the home this week. “They have come here repeatedly,” she said. “They have talked over all the parties which Lucy had attended for years. Not that there were-many, especially since the war.” Clothing, Money Intact

Anxious about their friend’s whereabouts, the members of this Younger Set have gone through a. list of all her acquaintances. This purposeful searching: has not disclosed any stranger against whom there might be any suspicion. In the girl’s bedroom, which she shared with her 18-year-old sister, not the faintest evidence could be found to explain Lucy’s absence. Not one article of clothing was missing. Nor was there any letter suggesting any outside relationship unknown to parents, sisters or brother. . And this was true of her office in the TLM.A. building where she was secretary to a doctor. A small banking account is still intact. v Many Police Search Dr. Brown Craig said that, although his reward of £SO had.produced a number of telephone calls, no light had yet been, thrown upon Lucy’s whereabouts. Like her mother, he is convinced she is alive, but, unless she is held a prisoner, he cannot understand why she has: not got in touch with her home. Meanwhile the search in Sydney alone, under Det.-Sgt. Richards, is employing 17 plainclothes police, while Victorian officers are examining flats, hotels and boardinghouses, and those in Brisbane are watching stations and ships.