Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-13
.TJELLO, this Is Blickett."

STTELLO, this Is Blickett"
IL AS Jacks deep voice, with a trace
OF ;iuskiness which was so familiar to me,
came over the wire | felt the hot tears
sting my eyeids This was perhaps the
last time in life I should ever hear the
voice of the cousin who had been more than
brother to me. The knowledge OF what
his loss would mean to me was enyeloplng
me like a pail
"Oh. Jack :" The words were more like
cry than greeting.
Margaret" l could hear his gasp OF
surprise. This is good of you, dear; but
are you sure 1t is wise? Where are you
phoning from? Your homer"
mo, from a drugstore booth nearby"
That's all right" l heard him give a
little sigh of relief I could not quite
fathom his reason for thinking me unwise
to telephone him I knew, however, that
his objection in some way part OF his
general plan to protect me from any pos
sibe anger Of Dicky's by eliminating HIM
self from my life
'I suppose you received my letter." His
calm voice steadied me. felt as IL I had
been on the verge of hysterla.
"Oh, yes, Jack, and I am so upset and
miserable over it. cannot let you GO
over there. Why, you may never come
back"
Don't you ever think Of it," His voice
was gay, bantering. but ! who had known
his every tone and infection since baby
hood recognized the strain beneath the
gayety 1t was ever Jacks way to think
of himself last
"lll come back riding a charger up
Broadway with a sword uplifted and Vic
toria crosses and Legions of Honor spilling
all over the place. I'll see that you get
front seat on the reviewing stand and you
can turn up your nose and say, i knew
him when"
please, Jack don't Jest about IT,"
was fighting hard to keep my voice from
betrayinE the tears which, threatened to
choke me every instant. TT is awful, your
going this way. ] feel so"--
Listen, Margaret" Jacks voice held
note Of command. 81 know what's troubling
your tender heart most and I'm going to
tell you that you're all wrong You feel
that you're to blame for my going don't
you?"
why, I've been so afraid ever since |
read your letter" I stammered
81 thought So Well, let me tell you now
that you had nothing to do with IT, You
ought to know me well enough to know how
the dangerous unknown grips ms It's right
W my blood. And my feelings have been
intensely stirred by my friend Cailard. with
whom l am going
JACK BRANELY REFUSES
"Of course, Margaret" into his voice
crept n tenderer note 81 am not going to
deny that If the hopes that | brought back
with me had been fulfilled I should not
have thought of going But It would have
been an inclination sacrificed for you The
point | want you to get is this--f 7 had
never known YOU | should be doing exactly
what | am going to do tomorrow"
] did not know whether he were living
to me or not, but ] chose to believe him.
His words lifted the weight from my heart
that had settled there when ! first read his
letter announcing his intention to join the
engineering corps in France with his friend
Caillard.
You are so good to tell me that, Jack"
| said gratefully. but [ must see you.
somehow. before you go"
There was a long silence at the other end
of the wire. I knew instinctively what it
meant. Jack was fighting a battle with
himself. He wanted to see me before he