Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-12-04

And SO they argued into the late
hours of that evening. Twice Gerald
Cummings walked to the front window

OnlceS on the corner.
He pointed them out 10 Janet, but
she was lmpassive. Mad men, she
remarked, and shrugged her shoulders.
And the final issue came about the
next morning. Gerald was firm.
"War is duty between man and
his God" he said holly, mot man
and his wife"
Just enough To kindle the flame.
Janet biaZed ner brown eyes upon him
and replied. well If you go. Gerald,
you go for good. If you are that stub
born and care for me so little, it's best
we know Il now. You go, Gerald, and
--and-well, we part ways
Gerald tried Cancellation. but IL
was futile. He decided To gol
A dull period Of monotony followed
for Janet at the Hemingway establish
ment where she had taken refuge
after Gerald had gone TO camp. But
the loneliness of the days she had
hitherto filled TO the brim With her
many household cares seemed 10 pail
Janet must do something. And so be-
the navy as yeomanette, Janet de
clded 10 take up stenography and 90.
too.
But she was disappointed Several
weeks after she graduated from the
business school i'm the heart of town
an order came through for stenog-
raphers at the gas defense plant on
Long Island She hesitated. Anne was
appointed in the navy But could she
not do the same bit i'm the army?
Her sefshnesS in merely wanting 10
be with her girl friend came To her
i'm full realization one morning when
she had seen the first transport Of
wounded soldiers land. and she has
tened 10 the plant 10 offer her services.
Janet. with the knack of her fathers
aptitude for business got along ex-
ceedingly well Meantime the war
ragged nj It's fiercest. Battles came
thicker and more often. and the yell
Of the newsies' husky voices on the
street corners at every edition OF the
big metropolitan daily made Janets
flesh creep Yes she had read of Ger
AIDS wonderful deed
She had followed every line of the
account of how he had saved whole
squadron by repairing the motor ambu-
lances so rapidly. Janet knew that a
new and greater love had come into
her life There was "A change, TOO, In
her parents view. Janet's mother, all
cOnciliatory aud one Of the chief work
crS nj the war camp community serv-
ice, said she always knew there -Vere
big things in Jerry"
But Janet had cried herself to sleep
that night.
In vain she wrote letters abroad. If
only She knew his definite address.
She had read where he had been
wounded. but no hospital number was
given The Red Cross took down the
data She was able 10 supply them.
Scant n IL was. for She had refused
even 10 see him the day he graduated
from the trimming camp aud was or
dered over
That was mhlths before. and a bit
ter repentance grew in her heart be
cause of it, She had been selfish. mar
row minded and vain. The words she
/ had uttered that day he had enlisted
burned and scared like blue flame now.
But morning banished all the tears.
Just because there was work 10 be
done. and Janet. dainty from the
feather i'm her little trig hat 10 her
neatly polished shoes. went to the plant
TO take her place among its many other
workers. IL was her last trip this dag,
for orders awaited her to report in
/ Washington.
A word of thanks 10 her captain for
recommending her as most capable. n
hastily packed travelling bag. host of
imagination--and Janet was on her
way To the great center from which
radiated 50 many executive spOkes of
the worlds war. II was glorious, But
the old feeling returned Ia quell her
enjoyment every now and then on the
train trip going down.
Mrs. Cummings" Sergeant Nun
soy read "A day later from her slip Ia
the lieutenant sitting at the huge oak
desk To his right. And Janet had tim
| idly acknowledged the title and mount
ed the stairway 10 the next floor with
him.
You are 10 work for the major are
YOU notf" he asked and Janet said she
had not been told. Eyes" continued
Sergeant Munsey, "the new major ar
rived yesterday. ! guess you'll like
him all right, with his hashy smile and
good hunor always. So much as We
have seen of him j don't wonder hc
was 50 popular with his men"
But they had reached the doorway
of the majors office and Sergeant
Munsey stopped.
A somewhat faint yet emotional
Janet wheeled the next moment and
sat heavily in the chair the major of
fered. The shoulders had looked fa.
miIiar. and yes, the head.
But il was preposterous And vet
Thank you. sergeant" Major Cum
mlngs said quietly. q will swear TIA,
little lady In YOU need not wait"
swear me inf" Janet said a bit
breathlessly rs she termed her Wild,
eyes radiant but tear-dimmed Will
happiness on her husband, Jerry.
"Why. yes-a mere custom Of the
service Mrs Cummings" he said
clint auI tbarn xvas 81