The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-16
Loue Without Music
by Helen Welshimer
CHAPTER FORTY-SIx

WHOM DID you come to see7"
Billie Anne had asked Linda as
they stood by the cool, dark river
side. watching a gray dawn come
across the hills.
Just friend" Linda answered,
suddenly realizing that she had no
right to be there at all. Robert had
said he loved her. but she had
withdrawn into Ronald's affections.
And now, when she was free, he
had other vows.
Not such new VOWS, either, she
reminded herself, for Billie Anne
was an old friend.
HE mus be some friend to bring
you out on a night like this. l
wouldn't have come, but the whole
family thought I'd better. Roberts
sisters won't fly. Scared to death of
1t. SO is his father So it seemed up
to me to do a cross-country mara
thon and bring the family SYM
pathy. They all thought I owed it
to him or something"
at was good of you to come"
Linda answered. Good Of her to
come? Why. any woman would
come winging through all clouds
when the man she loved was in
trouble or danger)
Billie Anne answered comfort
ably. Il thought so, too OF course,
In my position I guess there wasn't
anything to do. but I'd had a hectic
day yesterday. They say there isn't
any real danger. They'll tunnel the
men out all right in a few more
hours. Let's get some coffee"
They sat side by side on stools at
the improvised coffee shop where
the workers on the bridge had come
daily for huge sandwiches and
hunks of pie. There was a mirror In
front OF them and Linda watched
her face. curiously white and
strained, with green smudges where
her wide eyes were. and red lips
that broke the mask. She looked.
too. at Billie Anne.
The other girl was gay and radi-
ant, dark hair and eyes shining.
She had worn a tweed sports coat
and brown beret so the storm had
not upset her costume.
When they finished the coffee
and returned to the group Of watch
ers, Billie Anne asked someone
about the time.
They'll be coming out any
minute now-that is. maybe In an
hour or less" the informer said.
tits over there on the other side
OF the river. Some folk are going
over. Red Cross is waiting to give
aid"
Water looks awful" Billie Anne
said What kind of boats have
your"
Just row boats. I'll take you
over IL it's important" He mo-
toned to his boat, a fiimsy affair.
The water in the river was rough
and rising. Billie Anne shook her
head. "Ill wait here"
But maybe Robert will be sick
and need you" Linda said. Even
now she couldn't talk about death.
That couldn't, couldn't happen.
Let Robert marry Billie Anne. Let
her. Linda Avery. have just a
handful of words to keep. She
would Know. at least, that some
place a tall man with Drowned face
and steady hands and eyes that
knew laughter worked on mountain
tops or spanned wide rivers.
Billie Anne weighed Linda's
words. You're right. He might APP
preciate little devotion. I'll take
the boat and go over"
Its the last boat to make the
trip" the boatman said. "A lot Of
people are going TO want it You
Just got 1t in time"
May go along?" Linda asked.
Can you take two passengers ?"
She opened her pocketbook.
The boatman shook his head
"Sorry. sister Ones all we can
take in this water. Ill come back
for you maybe. If I'm not comman-
deered into service"
Come back for herl But Why?
Robert would have his girl Why