The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-11-11
CHAPTER v

She got into her car, and drove
to the Coronado Hotel. She asked at
the desk for Miss Hastings, and was
told that her suite was on the NTH
floor.
'Suitel" said Judy to herself.
"She would have suite!"
When she knocked at the door,
there was no answer. She won
dered for q moment if Marvel hao
gone out. But she decided that
was impossible. She was probably
sulking. Maybe she thought it was
DWIGHT, rushing around In person
after he'd hung up on the pnone'
'sBut if she had an ounce OF sense
she'd know he's on the ship! May
be she knows it's me :. heI
heart sank. The task before ner
was infinitely distasteful, but sne
had to do it. She had promised.
She raped on the door again:
This time there was the SOUND OF
someone moving, and in another
moment MarvePs voice came
"Who is it?" .a
in?"
The door was flung open. Mar.
vel in gold satin pajamas, her req
hair a fiery glory Of curlS, stooo
there. Her face was cold, unfrieno,
". Behind her, Judy saw a noGei
maid folding black cloud OF Julie
An evening dress. There was an
omen steamer trunk with a drawer
piled out, and clothes on the
hangers.
Judy stepped into the room, clos
ing the door behind her. MarvelS
face did not change. she simply
stood there, waiting. 1t was not
going to be easy. Judy felt the
beat of her pulse in her wrists, ana
a strange little dizziness behind
her eyes. Why should she be the
ona to argue with Marvel on
DvTieht,s account? 1t was no az
fair of hers. And yet she had
promised. And she would promise
ANYTHING, she knew, hating herself
when it was Dwight's slightly
husky, altogether thrilling voice
that asked her.
~Dwight telephoned me-" judy
said. walking to soft chair and sit
ting down. Marvel moved across the
room, took the bench before the
vanity table. Her reflection in the
mirror made two redhaired, cold
faced girls whom Judy had to face
Judy went on, steadily, HE asked
me to come here. He said you were
MT accustomed to the Nays dis
concerning habit Of ordering people
of to sea. He simply had to go
Duty. There was no way out. The
shippers wife - Mrs. Lane-tele-
uhoned me, too. She said she could
MT come tonight, and told me prob
ably no one else would come"
She leaned forward. "Oh, Miss
Hastings, I know how you feel
You've just gotten in. You want
to be with HIM. You feel as
though he could have managed to
stay with you. But I know better
In the Navy, no one counts. It's
only duty why, I've known men
whose wives were in the hospitals,
having babies" She thought OF
Diane. And of Bill Bell, who had
to walk out Of the ready room, his
flying Jacket buttoned under his
chin, and get into his plane, miles
out at sea, and wait for the signal
that meant Take off," She thought
of how she had been the only one
with Diane in those long black
hours. But Diane had understood
And this-this was only party =
an unlmportant little social event.
But Marvel's eyes did not soften
She said, in a cool little voice,
He could have stayed If he had
really wanted to!"
"No, no. He Couldn't You
don't understand"
Marvel said, IT understand well
enough! Surely it's not a matter
Of life and death - not matter OF
national emergency"
It had been a matter of ma
tional emergency that night the
Enterprise steamed out to sea-
either. Just a routine fight. But
Bill Bell had gone, and Diane had
not whimpered. Judy's fingers
closed UP, and she said, But its
duty. They were ordered to sea-
no one has the choice Of staying
don't you see?"
"No," said Marvel. mo, I dont
see.'
"But you musti Dwight begged
me to explainl He was so sure
you'd understand"
Marvel stood up. Her greer
eyes flashed. ut was very good Of
my fiance to ask another girl -
girl he's been as friendly with al
he has been with you - to come
here and soothe me. But I will
not be soothed, do you understand
I'm not accustomed to being kept
waiting for any onel Last Of al
for o mani He knew was conf
ing, he might have arranged things
so that I would not be left alone
like this. He didn't think 1t wa
important enough, that's ALL
x.ynsask mt I'm with IT, don't have