The Washington times., 1938-01-07
A PROMISE

A PROMISE
So Jimmy promised, and next
shore leave he'd have come home
alone except that he found Dugan
trailing after him, refusing to
take no for an answer. Sally
glared when she saw Joe but what
could she do?
And that's the way it kept on,
week after week, with Dugan's
desperation growing more appar-
ent all the time. He'd bring pres
ents for Mart and leave them
surreptitiously about. His big, Sc
rious, lovelorn eyes were no more
able to conceal affection than a
Newfoundland dogs.
Sally was hard put to find pre-
texts for getting Joe out of the
house, especially because the
strain was telling equally hard
upon Mart, who was strong
enough to flee from her weakness
but not strong enough to cope with
it when it was thrust before her.
Sally took refuge in white lie.
Martha simply can't bear sail
ors," she told Joe. "She utterly
despises them, positively hates
them"
why does she hang around
yorr house them" Supplemented
Joe wanted to know.
She's got to- work" Sally said
shortly. "Come on, Jimmy, let's
dance"
The situation might have gone
on and on indefinitely, getting to
be worse pain in the neck all the
time, except for the operation OF
a well-known truism in affairs ro-
mantle.
This truism, or proverb, is to
the effect that love will always
find a way and you'd be surprised
how often it works out.
Sally and Jimmy and Joe were at
dance hall one Saturday night.
Joe Dugan was celebrating what
the boys in the navy call a "crow'
which is really an eagle-a
sleeve decoration Signifying that
it's wearer has achieved certain dis
tinctions in the service.
This particular "crow" gave to
it's owner the official right to
marry and the boys were kidding
the big fellow goodnaturedly about
it.
There's a lot of pretty gals
here tonight" one said.
JOE'S CHOICE
The heck with 'em ALL" said
Joe. II wouldn't look at a gal that
goes for sailors. Not me. When
1 get married I'm going to pick
me out a gal that won't even speak
to a sailor, let alone look at one. !"
One Of the boys cried: Look.
there's Mart. Haven't seen her in
ages. Say, she's the best little
dancer in the fleet. Boy, am I
gonna crowd in for dance with
her!"
Joe Dugan, Of the Lady Lex,
started at the sound of the name.
And standing there, with Sally
Brown hanging to her arm, was in
deed Mart, with the light Of a
thousand loves that had concen-
trated down to one shining in her
eyes.
"I guess everything's all right,
| darling" Sallv WAS whispering
into Mart's ear. Anyway, you're
on your own now. Joe's got his
crow and he's a free agent"
A little while afterward Mart
was dancing blissfully with Joe,
having graciously but deter
minedly rejected all other bids.
Nope, boys" she told the others
happily, 1--WE been waiting for a
long time for this and I'm not 60
ing to miss it,"
"What's all this hooey about
you not liking sailors, honey?"
Joe Dugan demanded of Mart.
"I DON'T" said Mart. II don't
like but only one sailor Maybe I
used to like a lot of 'em but I'm
over it."
who's the one you like?"
II won't tell"
We'll, I'll tell you something,
baby. Somebody's been getting
away with something, I don't
quite know exactly what, but
here's one thing about it that amt
mixed up and that is that I am
positively nuts about you, Baby.
guess maybe you know that, and
anyway, what I mean is. am a
E. guy that goes for only one girl and
you're it, so how about you and
) me going out and getting married,
, huh?"
That was the longest speech Joe