The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-24
BY MARGUERITE GAHAGAN

large corporations "like Center vile Motors and Gull Plane" Nick had become interested. He had questioned her casually, in that friendly way that made her feel he was interested in herself alone. And then that time she had told him how, with the war orders, the office was frightened with new regulations; how the big vault now held many important papers.
 "You've been reading G-man stories" he had leased and she had laughed at her own serious ness.
 Things began to add up. She walked and walked still trying to piece together the jigsaw puzzle.
 Vera was in the office, appar- ently where she had meant to be from the beginning. Nick was making love to Sue Mary because he wanted a hold over her. At least that was Vera's supposition, although Natalie believed he was beginning to love her for herself.
 Sue Mary felt a little sick. To be used, to be so blinded by her own shortsightedness. Joe was right, had always been right. He had said that something would have to happen to waken her to what was going on.
 She was awake now. She felt as though she had been beaten awake. Her head ached and her legs felt leaden. She supposed she would have to go back to the apartment; have to go along some how until she could find an ex- cuse to get away. It was hard to see how she had become so in- volved in the whole crazy busi- ness anyway.
 Leisure time, she told herself bitterly. It was being lonely and having nothing to do. This seemed such fun, it opened such 8 new world. And now, what an awak- ening!
 Vera has gone when she went back to the apartment and Nat allie was in bed half asleep. She stir red when Sue Mary came in.
 Out with Nick?" she asked.
 "No. I went to a ball game; an old American custom,' Sue Mary answered as she undressed.
 Hatred was beginning to stir within her, but some remnant of caution still remained, despite the weariness and ditrust she experi- enced. She knew she must do something tomorrow. Somehow she would have to think this through.
 Tomorrow came, and another day, and still another,S and Sue Mary blindly felt her way along. It was hard trying to pretend that nothing had changed. Going to the hall, listening to the members talk about keeping America safe, of retaining American freedom of speech and thought, of the witch hunts started by ax-grinding poli- ticians to frighten respectable people, of the speedups in plants and the resultant burden on the workers.
 But the workers aren't com- plaining, are they?" she asked.
 The sound of her own voice came as a surprise. She didn't mean to make herself conspicu- ous. All she wanted was to be forgotten, to break away from this. And yet in the back of her mind was fear; fear that these people weren't as simple as she once thought.
 Aren't complaining" Vera re- peated. Good heavens, the fac tory owners are getting twice as much work out of them now as before. just because they say the orders are for national defense"
 Well, even if they are work ing so hard, it's for the good of the nation, isn't it?" persisted Sue Mary. T mean I should think a man would rather work in a fac tory now than fight in a trench later on."
 Someone laughed and Vera shook her head, smiling patiently. Sue Mary, sometimes I don't | think you can read, or hear, either, for that matter. This is capitalists | war. Please remember that"
 Arguments boiled around her i with every one trying at once to | make her see the point. Then Nick came in and made them stop. "Hoven't you anything bet ter to do?" he demanded. Who was supposed to arrange for that | dance at the summer school? We were to have a speaker there for Fritz King. A lot of these stu dents are old enough to vote. And l who was supposed to draw up that resolution to present to the l city council? We want to. use that school for a meeting and they haven't a right to keep us out. This is free country"
 Everyone was working again and Sue Mary slipped into the incon.