Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07

III idCtS L VItcu Tuh Vut " viz wa
gressional Library just for the JOY
Of seeing our state papers and get
ting a few sympathetic giances from
California people who are reading
them.
Jack and I are still doing all the
public places, and it is lots Of fun
with Jack. To see us one would know
we were two children out on a lark.
Our latest escapade was Glen Echo
tonight. Since 1 have never seen
Coney Island, Jack said he would in
troduce me to it in mild form. we
went on the scenic railway, did the
whip. danced. and when we were
tired. sat and watched the crowd.
Next time we are going to Great
Falls. If only the car was here, his
or mine! But how many signs have 1
uttered to a cold Washington moon
for the machine that is back home
missing it's owner. probably. as much
AZ its owner misses it. Priscilla is
shocked at my enjoyment. Dad, OF
all these public places. She does not
object to my seeing what they are,
but she thinks that 1 should come
back with a millionairish feeling OF
contempt.
When I started this letter 1 intend
ed to tell you. as I have been often
wanting to. just the events that fill
up one busy day in war workers
life. have almost; you know what
we did at noon, also about our walk
trees, and where Jack and 1 went to-
night (see how late this letter is be-
ing written); but I have saved the
most interesting event Of the day
until the last.
About o'clock today I slipped
down to remind Priscilla to wait for
me, so we could walk to Potomac
Park. I found her talking to one of
the sweetest-faced women ever saw.
Priscilla was holding photograph
and an envelope in her hand and list
ening with great effectiveness. but
she included me by stopping to ex-
plain: This is Mrs. Allison. Polly,
whose husband is a lieutenant in the
aviation. He suddenly disappeared
and cannot be located. She knows
we have investigated such cases and
has come to us for advice" She then
turned to the quiet figure and said:
when did he go to walter Reed?"
HE was sent to Walter Reed last sum-
mer along with a contingent of wounded
men to be treated for sheh shock" Mrs.
Allison said. HE stayed there until
December, and every time l visited him
he seemed to be more normal Also his
knee-did mention his knee:-was i'm
proving under the treatment. The day
after Christians he came home and said
that he was cured. Then'-her face fell
back into the lines Of grief that were
wiping out her youthful beauty-'he
disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.
! wired Walter Reed and found that he
had returned for treatment. He stayed
there three days, and came home again.
He was almost well. so cheerful. you
know. But he left once more. about 4
month ago, and have not been able to
locate him at Walter Reed or at any
other place to which he would be likely
to 60. have tried detective agencies
everything. A friend directed me to you.
You have located men suffering under
the decisions Of shell shock. Win you
help met"
She poured out the last words In q
fever OF anxiety, which showed how
humiliating 1t was to expose her trou-
bles. Then Priscilla began to ask kind,
tactful questions.
I stood listening to them, with some-
thing laundering in the back Of my
brain that was impossible. When Pris-
ella laid down the picture and envelope
! picked them up.
The shel-shocked husband. Daddy,
was the image Of Lieut.. Belson.
stared and stared at it. Then I
looked at the writing on the enye-
lope. 1 thought at first that it might
be his brother. a relative or perhaps
his double, although / knew that no
two men looking SO identicaily alike
would ever have lived through ex-
periences SO identically the same The
envelope settled everything. That Pc
culiar sloping script was Lieut.. Bel
sons beyond every shadow Of a doubt.
laid them back on the table. try
Ing to do 1T as disinterestedly as I