The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-07-05

Katharine thought the dream
must be going on and on and that
the nurse and this conversation
were part of 1t. But she felt OF
the coarse, clean sheet; that was
real.
Her gown was real, too, and SO
was the nurses broad, kindly face.
"Mr.-Mr. Heatheroe?" Kath-
arine said dimly.
why yes, dear, your husband
come on from the east to see
you, and finding an airplane and
all, and swooping down from the
sky to rescue you. declare, II it
isn't just like the talkies!" bub-
bled the nurse who enjoyed the
films and had her favorite stars
and cut their pictures out of the
magazines.
Michael was here, then. Kath-
arine had dreams of him, as she
almost always did; and he was
here somewhere-close enough so
that she might reach out her hand
and touch him.
But she was tired suddenly and
closed her eyes again. There was
so much that Michael had to ex-
plain before things could be
of it now.
straight. She couldn't bear to think
Once more she slept. -.
Behind the ranch house two
young men faced each other
angrily. Michael said, $50 I'm a
liar. eh?"
"You are" said Frank, almost
affably. Now that there was i'm
mediate prospect of a conflict, he
was enjoying himself. Fighting
any physical activity-was what he
loved most. And he was furiously
angry at this man.
There was the slap of SOLE
leather on the hard packed ground.
There were the sounds of blows.
Michael Tented. Frank drove a
terrific blow to his adversary's
chin. Blood began to trickle in
little stream from the cut.
Mrs. Darragh came to the kitch-
en- door and watched them little
fearfully. She was used to fight
ing. All the "boys" around here
fought, early and often. But this
was a little different. She sensed
that.
Dad, maybe you and Dossy bet
ter go and stop them" she said
anxiously. Hobe Darragh grunted,
packing the tobacco down into his
pipe.
do 'em good" he grunted. Get
It out of their systems. Never saw
woman trouble yet but could be
settled that way"
Dad was smart, thought his wife
proudly. He knew, straight off, this
fight meant woman trouble. No
body's told him; still he knew. 1t
was one of the things you felt in
your bones. That young girl in the
bedroom was sure a pretty piece
of goods. Quality, all though. Mrs.
Darragh had seen the pigskin case.
packed with tortoise backed toilet
things, that the Millards had
brought in their car. 1t must have
cost a small fortune. Still and all,
even a heightened girl like this had
her love troubles. Two fighting over
her, Ell? Well, Ma Darragh had
known the thrill of that, too, in
her own tempestuous youth. She
was gray now, and fat and shape
less, but she hadn't forgotten.
She went back to the table with
the blue and white checked cloth
and sat down and tried to eat, but
she couldn't, somehow. Twould
be pity If that young fellow who
looked like Gary Cooper got all
mussed up, and his wife just COM
ing to, like. Maybe she'd better do
something about it. :.
She looked up and put her hand
over her mouth to stifle an instinc-
tive scream. Because the young
lady who'd been lost in the desert
was standing in the doorway. She
had a blue robe on over her night
things, and her feet were bare. She
was staring out of the open door in
frightened way. In the light OF
the yard lanterns you could see the
two wary figures moving to and fro.
Where was that drafted nurse,
thought Mrs. Darragh angrily,
moving as swiftly as her bulk
would allow toward the slim fig
ure. But the girl was quicker. For
all her weakness, Katharine was
at the door in an instant, and one