The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-10
CHAPTER Nv

Saturday morning Judy Alcott
awoke with a heavy sense OF some
thing unpleasant impending. And
then she remembered. Today was
the day she was going with Dwight
to meet his fiancee.
She dressed carefully, in her best
silk sport dress. 1t was trim, smart,
and had been reduced at a swank
Los Angeles shop. She smiled grimly.
Diane was always the one who sang,
"Sale, Navy, down the 'feld-sale
under way :. :"
Marvel Hastings wouldn't be
wearing anything marked down!
Dwight came for her at a quar-
ter OF ten. He was radiant, and his
gladness was an added affront. But
she tried hard to act glad, too. Only,
sitting beside him on the way to
Lindbergh Field, she couldn't help
remembering their dates, the way
they had kissed. She had no bust
ness to feel this way about a man
who was going to marry somebody
else. But she kept right on feeling
that way.
Lindbergh Field, one of the larg-
est in the country, had once been
an Experimental Navy Field, she re-
membered. She looked at the adj
ministration buildings, at the wide
expanse of landing area, and at the
three huge airliners lined up behind
the wire fence.
Diane was always saying she
wished Bill had a nice, safe trans
port job. But it wasn't really safe,
either, Judy knew. A man in pilots
gray came out of one of the ships.
Judy wondered If his wife, too, wor-
ried when he was away. Diane made
light of it, but Judy knew how the
dark night hours tormented her
when the feet was away at sea.
With Dwight, an engineering Of
ficey on a battlewagon, Marvel would
never have to worry. Judy hated
herself for the way her eyes chung
to him. She didn't want to see his
lean, graceful height, she didn't
want to see the way his eyes were
alight with happiness. If that
smile were for her-but it wasn't.
Steady, Judy" she said to her.
self.
At ten thirty the great silver ship
came out of the sky and circled Tor
q landing. They watched it, power
full swift, beautiful beyond descrip-
ton. And then it vas taxing to the
apron, and almost as soon as the
propeilers stopped whirling, the
cabin door was flung open and on
the steps the porter had rolled up, q
girl was standing.
she would be the first one out,
Judy thought.
She had red hair, this vision in
the cabin door. A trim tailored
suit. a magnificent silver fox, and a
little hat of engaging. knowing
smartness, with stiff red and gray
feather. !.
Dwight shouted, MARVEL" and
ran toward her. Judy stood STILL
waiting for them to have their
greetings over with. Dwight kissed
her. The hostess who had come out
of the plane smiled. A couple OF
descending passengers grinned, and
a Young man who had Confidently
become friendly with her since they
met in the airliner's cabin called,
"Goodby, Miss Hastings. Happy
Landing, isn't it?"
And then Dwight was bringing
Marvel toward her. His hand was
under her elbow. He was acting as
though she were spun glass, and
precious beyond price.
Darling, this is Judy Alcott. You
know I wrote you about her.
Her fathers Admiral Alcott. Judy,
this Is Marvel" He added in a burst
of happiness, II hope you two are
going to like each other. I know
you will"
But Marvel's odd green eyes
were resting on Judy appraisingly,
and Judy was suddenly glad she'd
worn the tie silk dress and her new
shoes. Marvel took in the smoothly
brushed, blond hair, the heart
shaped face, the blue eyes with their
shining fringe of lasheS.
eOh, Dwight, I didn't know she
was blond or II never have trusted
you'll" she laughed.
Dwight laughed, too. Judy could