The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-09
CHATTER III

She didn't sleep much that night.
She told herself fiercely that it was
not because she was breaking her
heart over Dwight Campbell. It was
only because Jack Hanley had been
so blasted right about him!
But her heart didn't seem to
hear her mind, for it kept right
on hurting. She turned and tossed,
watched the pattern of silver moon
light across the floor, and slow. re-
luctant tears oozed out of her eyes.
The next morning, as she sat on
the front porch listelessly, Mrs.
Lane came up the stairs. Mrs.
Lane was the wife of the captain
they had dined with last night.
And Mrs. Lane said brightly,
why, Judyl I thought you and
that nice Lieutenant Campbell
were having a regular little affair,
and now I hear he's going to mar
ry some girl from the East!"
Dwight then had lost no time in
announcing his coming marriage.
Captain Lane was his skipper.
Judy forced herself to smile. "Oh,
he spent all his time with me tell
ing me about her"
Mrs. Lane patted her. you're
a good girl, Judy" Judy knew she
was thinking of Ward Fenning,
and of how it had been five years.
Five years, and Judy Alcott
still was not engaged. Then Mrs.
Lane went in the house, and Judy
sat on, stonily. Jack would know.
The whole Navy would know. II
they were having Navy we'd
ding, Dwight would ask some of
his shipmates to be ushers. She
thought of the arch of swords,
and of bride and groom walking
out of the church, smiling. She
got up. She said to herself, Judy
Alcott, you ought to be kicked!"
The phone rang, and then her
mother was calling her. She won
deged viciously if that was one of
the station glad-girls. eager to
pump her. But, surprisingly, 1t
was Dwight Campbell's voice that
answered her guarded, Hello"
"Listen, Judy, I've wired Mar
vel, she'll be here Saturday - I
couldn't wait a week! I'd like you
to come with me to the airport to
meet her. You've been my best
friend here, and know you'll like
her. She'll need Navy woman
to sort of show her around - get
her started"
Refusal was on the tip Of her
tongue. But she did the sporting
thing. "Of course, Dwight. I'd
love tol"
That's fine, then. She gets in
at Lindbergh Field Saturday at
1915 in the morning. I'll call for
you at quarter of ten"
As she hung up the phone, Judy
couldn't help comparing her own
arrival inSan Diego with that of this
girl. Dad had gone on ahead from
Brooklyn, she remembered, by train.
He was to take over at the station
here in only few days. She and
her mother had supervised the en-
listed men who packed and ship
ped the furniture, and they had
worked like Trojans. After which
they had cooled their heels until
the transport Henderson was ready
to leave for the long passage
through the Canal Zone and around
the Western Coast up to San Diego.
The Henderson was an old ship and
their quarters had been nothing
extra. Judy had enjoyed the trip, but
now, thinking of Marvel Hastings
coming across the continent in
swift, streamlined Air Sleeper, at a
cost she knew of nearly 5000, the
trip in the Henderson seemed grub
by indeed. And her journey was
overnight, not two long weeks.
The phone rang again. This
time it was a girls voice, and
Judy waited. But it was not one
of the gossip brigade. it was
Diane Belle, who had just had
new baby
"You never have time for me,
Judy! Come on over and see lit
tie Billy, he's the darlingest. thing!
Give the boy friends the go-by for
one day. I'll fix you something
good for lunch"
It'll have Guam salad said
Judy. Diane, as very young
girl, had lived in Guam. where
her father was in charge of the
station, and she was always
boasting about how she had learned
to make meals with practically no.