The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-09-17

"Oh, don't be so tiresome. was
still in the shower"
But it was not Monte's laugh
that greeted her; it was Ted Ora
hams voice.
"Ohw she said, with a high
pitched little cry.
Crossed wires" Ted d.
Monte was just in the office and
said you were free until this af-
ternoon. I've put him to work and
now he's out of the way! But If
YOU want to inspect the Mariner
Or" he hesitated. I'm driv-
ing up to the San Carlos valley
to see the kid. You remember |
told you about my adopted son,
Dickie. When Pm in port l like to
snatch him out of the military
school and take him up to camp.
It's lovely up there. Would you
like to go?" ~
ooh, I'd love itw she said. 81
can inspect the Mariner any
time"
He said, "I'll come by for you
in my car"
She dressed hurriedly. Ted, she
knew, was anxious to see the boy
and she didn't want to keep him
waiting. She put on her simplest
white linen frock with a gay ker-
chief. matching her green eyes,
tied around her throat. She was
waiting in front of the clubhouse
when he drove up. .
There's something about you"
Ted said, puzzled. And that was
all he said just then. He didn't
realize that, in setting her apart,
he had paid her the compliment
women prize most.
Kay leaned back in the scat and
watched the flashing pan rama.
They sped past the green hills of
Berkeley and began to climb a
road between the yellow walls Of
canyon. Soon they were in a
high valley where there were
pleasant fields of wild flowers and
little pines Everything was
freshly green and in bloom.
They drove up to a group of
yellow buildings, nestled among
some pines, and Ted got out,
lvaulting up the steps to the wait
ing room. He came out a few min
uteS later with Dickie.
Dickie was going on 8, and in
his smart grey uniform looked
very manly. Kay thought he was
adorable. He had curly yellow
hair and blue eyes and one dim
! pie.
When Ted introduced Dicltie he
saluted her gravely, and then took
her hand. He sat between them,
his gloved hands resting in his
| lap. To her first question he said,
eyes, ma am" but she asked him
to call her Kay.
He looked to Ted for permits
sion, and Ted grinned. Dickie
said, "Kay," tasting the name as
he would have tasted new brand
of chocolate.
Later, at the cabin in the val
| lev, Ted said, "Dickie's mother
died when he was born. His
father was killed in an airplane
crash when 'Dickie was 8. The
kid hasn't had much family life. "
But Dickie was joyously hap
Ply now. He had taken off his trim
military uniform and wore the
toughest clothes he could find.
| Presently he went flying to the
wood house to see if his old
friends, the chipmunks, still lived
there.
Ted wouldn't let Kay do any
thing. He told her she'd get her
dress soiled or a smudge on her
face. She sat, watching him pre-
pare their lunch and cycling him
with amusement.
The cooking was simple enough.
There were only wieners to boil
and coffee to be made. All the
rest, a prepared lunch, Ted had
brought with them.
But she observed that he knew
how to make good coffee. She
/ passed him a compliment that
made him blush under his tan.
"I've been baching it for Is
years now-since my wife died.
With Jerry Searles. Jerry was my
bomber during the war and now
he's mechanic at the home port.
Dickie adores him-but that was
the trouble. The kid was hanging
around the airport too much.
That's why put him in military
school,"
He'd probably be happier at
the airport" Kay said. He'll be
a great flyer-like you"
Ted busted himself with the
pots and pans, then turned to her
again.
"Pm pretty much of a lone
wolf now. I've been living in the
air-for the air. Back there-15
years ago-I was terribly in love
with my wife. That was when
flying was really dangerous. l
survived several bad crashes, but
she died, I believe, from a success
sion of shocks caused by the dam
gers of my job. That's why new
err married again"
Kay said nothing. Dickie was
Istill watching the chipmunks, and