New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-15

when I saw you through Ina
screen door, you looked ~ miser
able as I feel" he volunteered.
"Why. what have you got to b.
unhappy about?"
Plenty" answered Phil, laconi
cally. II have just had some ter
rible news from home. Everything
has gone to smash in my family"
The girl laughed.
Phil thought that the sound wal
worse than a sob.
Don't you know you're in luck
II you even have a family? Can
the self-pity. kid. for II you get me
started, God help us both"
You don't mean to tell me that
YOU think you're really unhappy
and she took him In slowly from
the top OF his sleek brown hair to
the tip Of his shiny shoes with an
appraising eye.
What she found there she evil
IDENTIFY found good to look at. for a
look OF tenderness came into her
eyes that no man had probably seen
there for many years.
Then because 1t takes only a. .ook
of sympathy and understanding to
unlock the lips OF boy. Phillip
Wynne Tracy ", in that sordid crib
down there by the border. opened
his heart and told this poor. half
starved, flung aside morsel Of hui
manity, the story of his first passion
the story of I.yra billiard.
His words came with rush. The
girl sat so still he was not sure she
was listening, and finally to cover
his own display Of feeling to a COM
parative stranger he stopped in the
middle of a sentence, Gee. I don't
even know your name" he ex-
claimeGs land you're nice, too"
At this the girl raised her face
again, Two large tears welled up
in her eyes and ran unheeded down
her cheeks.
Seeing them, Phillip knew she
had heard everything and under
stood all.
II am Phillip wynne Tracy w."
he. announced. as though he had
made her one Of his friends then
and there.
I'm going to send you doctor"
"Oh, I'm all right. I'll get better
or die soon-either one won't make
any difference to the world, any
way"
.I'u stop on my way back to
camp" he continued, as though she
had not spoken.
She turned away her head and
he heard he mutter as though 10
herself: II have no money to pay
a doctor" Then quickly she spoke
as though she were afraid he had
heard her.
ut is late, wynne. You should be
on your way back to camp"
Phil looked at his watch rather
ostentatiously 1t gave him chance
to recover from the sound OF the
name Of "Wynne" from the lips OF
thi, girl - it was later than he
thought. He realized he had 10
hurry.
stiu sticking in the back OF his
head, however, was that muttereo
sentence, II have no money to pay
a DOCTOR"
Almost turning his back upon her
in that little room, he awkwardly
took SO from his pocket and care
lesslv tried to leave it on the chest
OF drawers beside the bed without
her seeing him doing it.
The girl. who had not missed
move he had made. looked W at
him gratefully from the bed where
she was sitting. but said nothing.
Phil walked over and picked up
one Of her hands which, pale and
quite beautiful. we're lying relaxed
in her lap among the folds OF her
red kimono. He patted 1t bashfully
with the same gentle movement
that he had used when he was try
ing to comfort his mother.
Good bye he said. "1-1-Td
like to stay and talk with you long
or, but III, be late II don't hurry.
and I'd hate them to put me out OF
the army"
At this the girl smiled. With
little catch in her breath she ex-
claimed:
Don't worry. kid. They wouldn't
put anybody as nice as you out of
any place"
Phil grabbed his hat and opening
the door he rushed for jitney.
The girl sat for a moment looking
through the open doorway where
ne had vanished. Then she got up
YEARLY. picked up the bill and
dropped it in the upper drawer OF
the chest, walked over to the win
dow and pulled up the shade.
Phil managed to get past the
guard. although he was aware that
it was about minute after twelve
and he congratulated himself thai
everything was all right.
He had forgotten, however, about
the encounter with Lieutenant
Andrews.
Soon he was lying on his camp
cot. his eyes wide open in the
darkness. wondering how such a
lady" could have como down 30
low.
The next morning at revcille he
was told to report Immediately after
breakfast to the first sergeant.
He was mystified but he UNDER
stood when Top Sergeant Muldoon
said: Lieutenant Andrews has re-
ported that you were not in your
quarters at midnight. Military dis
cipline must be upheld. Tracy.
Lieutenant Andrews has instructed
that you be detailed to kitchen po-
lice for three days and that your
nasses TO town be withheld for that