The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-08-19
WAR and q
WON AN
nv RrTY WALLACE.

4
aue crashed. Hes in the hospi-
tai. San Diego. I-theyn call
me"
so that's it, Swiftly, the COM
petent Rourke was taking her IN
hand. Your man Is an aviator.
She tried 10 get Linda to so up
stairs. but Linda wouldn't move.
Il must know how he Is.
you'll know soon enough"
The telephone pesled. Linda
grabbed it. Hello"
"wm you speak with the officer
on duty" the operator asked.
Yes, yes. Anything"
The man sounded calm and I'M
hurried. You want information
about Lieutenant Cooper"
yes. yes. quickly"
"Who is this. please ,"
Don't ask me questions' I'm
I'm
Il think I understand. Lieuten-
ant Cooper is doing as well as
could be expected under the cir
cumstances. Hes been severely in
lured. but We"
"Win he die? she sobbed. rs
he dying ,"
I'D suggest that you get here
yourself if at all possible" the
voice said gently. Hes been
badly injured and that's all We
can say at the present time"
She hung up without thanking |
him. "Rourke, Rourke, I've got
to go to California. right away"
You're going to bed right away, |
that's where you're going. Stop |
all this noise! Do you want to
wake your father >"
II must 60" she whimpered. |
"oh, Rourke. you don't under
stand. He's dying. II may never
see him again"
Better come to my room If
you're bound you'll carry on,
Rourke said, taking Linda's arms
in her strong hands. Come on,
now. I'm going to give you a
sedative."
Let me alone. I tell you, I'm
going. There must be plane out
of here tonight"
Rourke sat down heavily, her
shrewd old eyes suddenly de-
feated and tired. You're crazy,
Linda Storm. But I can't say 1
blame you. It's enough to make
anyone lose their mind. I'll pack
your things, but what I'll tell
your father in the morning. l
don't know"
There was no time to think of
that. Get DR.. Logan, he'll know
what to do" She went to the tele-
phone again. The airport. Money
for ticket. In Daddy's secretary,
there was always money. 1t would
be enough.
Time raced, and she raced
against it. Somehow, she was
dressed for the trip. Cramming
on her hat. Taking the suitcase
out of Rourke's hand. kissing
her gratefully, and running to-
ward the cab that was waiting
outside.
At half-past five the next day,
Linda Storm was stepping out of
the plane in San Diego. She re-
membered dimly the stops at
Nashville, Memphis, Dallas. She
had undressed, lain down in the |
sleeper planes berth, but she
hadn't slept. All day today she'd !
been like a woman in a daze.
The navy hospital, when she
entered it few minutes later, was
as unreal to her as the plane had
been. Nothing mattered, only
Jimmy. She had to see him! She
prayed for strength, prayed that
he was still alive, that no nurse or
officer would come forward now
and say gently, You're too late"
Lieutenant Cooper" she whis-
pered jerkily to the first man she
saw. He had gold braid on his
sleeve. She didn't look at his face.
The man said, There are visi-
tors with him now, l think"
Visitors ?" Then he was still
alive! He wasn't going to die. He
was all right. A wave of faint
ness hit her, and she struggled |
against it for a moment
A girls voice was crying, |
blankly, why. Linda Storm How |
on earth did you get here"
She turned swiftly. Marcia |
King was standing there, staring |
at her.
Ito Be Concluded)