The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-05
WAR and q
w ON AN
by BETTY WALLACE,

CONTINUED From Page s.
her. They had talked Of a Chip
pendale sofa: Duncan Phyfe
card table: built in bookshelves
on each side Of the fireplace. And
now it was all like an unreal tale
that someone had merely repeated
10 her. Just because she had look
ed up at Marcia Kings fiance IN
the soft tropical darkness. every
thing else was falling apart.
Il must be gong crazy"
She would not look at him again.
She would be casual, and cool and
.impersonal He could not be feel
ing the things she was feeling.
People didn't throw over their
whole lives like that.
Marcia came rushing into her
room. Good morning. Hey, where
are you?'
Taking shower" Linda num-
bled.
Guess who's waiting down
stairs Jimmy! Hes going to help
me take you around on real
tour of the station. Linda. You'll
be thrilled. You've never seen
anything like this. That quick
glimpse yesterday was nothing.
Well inspect all the planes and
watch the cadets and you can even
sit in the cockpit of a bomber.
Too bad you cant go up. but regu-
lations don't allow ladies in service
planes, although l have heard it's
been done on the sly" How un-
troubled she was, how gloriously
happy!
Linda got through her dressing
somehow. When she sat before the
mirror. applying her rouge facing
Marcia's clear eyes, il was terribly
difficult to say, No. II don't
want to see the station again."
/ But she said it because she knew
| it had to be said. She had no
interest in the station. She mustn't
be too much in Jimmy Cooper's
company before that wedding a
week from Sunday.
Don't want to >" Marcia echoed
blankly. II never heard of such
thing Everybody loves to look
the station over Lis,ua was mis-
erably aware that Marcia had
offered her a great boon. Not to
appreciate ii must seem inexpi-
cable to Navy girl.
II know most people would
would like to 60" she founder
ed. But well. all those planes
make me feel uncomfortable. They
remind me of things I'd rather not
think about. War, and bombs fall
ing on women and children. The
worlds so upset these days. The
papers are full of jittery headlines.
Carnage in China and Spain and
Hitler marching his army around
and flying his planes over Eu-
rope"
She was not being tactful. Ger
tainly, she was not being polite.
But this meant a great deal to
her, and it was the truth. At least,
it was half the truth. The other
half was that she would rather sit
here in this room alone than get
into that car, wedged in between
Marcia and Jimmy Cooper.
Marcia sat on the bed with
startled abruptness. Linda Storm,
are you stark, raving mad? know
you're an intelligent Girl. More
intelligent than I'll ever be, may
be. l guess ! am flighty and l
hardly ever read the newspapers.
Except for who married who. But
honey, these planes here at Pensa-
cola mean protection and defense
for our country! My father and
Jimmy and all those boys here
learning to fly are what stand be-
tween Us and ever getting in the
mess the rest of the world is in"
Linda took deep breath. Look,
Marcia. Put me down as queer.
I've got a phobia about those
planes. You go some place with
your Jimmy, and I'll potter around
by myself"
But Marcia was dismayed and
hurt. The funny little snub nose
wrinkled, and the soft, velvet
brown eyes blinked to keep the
tears back. 7 especially asked
Jimmy to be nice to you. Look at
me, Linda. Tell me the truth. Is it
because you don't like him, per-
sonally? l thought last night you
were little stiff. Did he say
something out there on the porch7
Oh. darling. don't tell me you've
taken a dislike to JIMMY"
ITO Re GonfipuadA