New Britain herald., 1930-09-17
Bourbon in hand.

"Yew better take this, honey" he said, unwontedly gentle.
 Where is it?" she asked stead fly, tossing off the whiskey in a single gulp.
 Welling divined she meant the letter, and drew from his pocket couple of sheets of paper, bearing the letterhead of a law firm: Cut ting, Mar & Howe" with a Wall Street address. The neat, typed lines were blurred and wavery, but she forced herself resolutely to de- cipher them.
 We regret to inform you that among other papers of our client, MT. Blaine Howard, forwarded to us, with his effects, from France, we find a communication from you, evidently in reply to one he had addressed you. Prior to the receipt of your letter, MT. Howard was re- ported missing in action during the first week of May last, we are in- formed confidentially, on the Somme front.
 His body was not identified in the sector occupied by the British troops and his name has not been included in the lists of prisoners ol enemy wounded communicated by the Imperial German Govern ment. An attempt by the Red Cross and allied agencies to determine his fate has so far been frutless. although
 Dagger read no farther The let ter fell into her lap. Her eyes were quite dry but somehow, she was unable to see.
 "Where's your hand, Dick ?" she said. Thanks. I-'
 And for the first time in her life she fainted.
 Wavering back to consciousness, Dagger was aware of Dicks face close to hers, and her uncle's voice reiterating the refrain:
 Damned if I ever reckonod to see Dagger faint, Damned if I--"
 Damned if I'll ever do it again." she murmured. You know, Uncle Jim, I sort of made a fool of my self over-him."
 "Nothin' of the sort" Marley re- tcrted. "Yew hush. Dick told me bout it. Huh. Feel shot up, my, self"
 In the desperate hope of finding a trace of Howard old Jim wired scme Washington officials he knew, and Weling cabled relatives in Lon don who. he hinted for the first time, were influential. But these efforts produced only sympathy and endeavors which were fruitless.
 The one concrete result was the interest in Yelling shown by his friends at home. and Dagger was touched by the combination of sur prise and pleasure he experienced at the discovery that he had not been forgotten during his exile.
 Fancy 'Bulr Crichton being Under-S Secretary of Munitions" he exclaimed. And here's my cousin, Wenlock poor chap, he says two of his boys have gone West" He hesitated. That leaves only the little fellow, and it's an old title"
 'Is your cousin lord 9" Dagger asked idly.
 He nodded, and switched the con- versation to the topic of their search. Slowly Dagger came to realize Howard was gone, but un- Tagging physical exertion no longer numbed her pain. And her unrest was accentuated by a cable for Yelling.
 T say. I say, Dagger" he was 50 excited he could scarcely speak Bull Crichton's got job for me. Horse buying. There's commits sion over here, purchasing for the army, and I'm to be on it. Doing my bit, at last"
 That's fine, Dicky," she an, swercd, curbing the dismay that flooded her heart. T wish l could dc mine"
 She tried honestly to like her job but the final straw, the uti- mate agSravariOn, came in a letter tlom her aunt Espy in San Antonio. announcing the enlistment of her two cousins.
 I'm feeling right lonesome, Alix, her aunt concluded. Why don't you come down, and visit me spell? It's about time Jim Marley under stood you aren't a boy to spend your life gadding around a ranch with pack of Cowpunchers and peons."
 Uncle Jim" Dagger announced calmly I'm going to San Antonio"