The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-09
A YANK In
THE R. A. F.
Bv HARLAN THOMAS

threw the wheel over. trying -
roll out Of il. Tim Baker leaned
forward. watching the gsrish sp-
preaching fireworks "Ssy-those
fellows sren't kidding, even Il we
are
Go at. Morley ordered briefly.
Give the corporal q hand
Harry Baker vas not doing any
shooting. He was busy lifting the
cover of the camera aperture IN
the planes bottom and cutting the
rope off bale OF propaganda leaf
let's Then ne started feeding them
out IN a steady stream. He finish
ed one bale and hauled another for
ward Just as he was about 70 I'M
tie il, Tim appeared
Wait a minute" Tim said. Not
that way
Harry gave way reluctantly,
while Tim showed the whole bale
toward the aperture. But they're
supposed to be opened, sir, SOS
they can read them"
Tim pitched a heavy. bound-up
bale overheard. IN bet they'll
make more OF an impression this
way" obviously Harry brought
him another. Tim winked. Here's
one for Adolf himself
Now Harry grew enthralled by
the new game. He lugged the bales
forward and helped Tim throw
them out. Il don't think there's
chance of lifting i'm. strand i'm
'iding underground
He squinted down through the
aperture Nothing was to be seen
but the haziest gray checkerboard
of faraway roofs and squares. The
plane pitched through sputtering
ack-ack.
Like / said, sir" Harry called,
disappointed. Landed behind him,
il did But I think maybe we got
his fat friend"
They dumped the rest. That's
all" Tim grinned Close her up"
As he turned away. his eyes fell
upon a heavy flare in the rack. He
picked it up and hurled 1t down
through the opening Then, looking
much relieved, he walked forward.
Harry. alone, looked around, pick
ed up another flare, and consid-
cred throwing it. Then he thought
better of il. Reluctantly he put it
back and shut the opening.
Tim reported to Morley. well,
we've delivered the mail"
Good" Morley put the plane
into a turn.
"Of course 7 still think we
should have stopped and tucked
those leaflets under their doors so
they'd be absolutely sure to get
them" Tim yawned
Morley glanced at him quietly.
Il hope this war isn't going to be
too great bore to you, Baker"
War - Tim asked, puzzled.
What war? This phony-where
you go around dropping literature,
/ trying to make friends and influ-
ence people >" He sat back dis
gustedly "Imagine-my first trip
over Berlin-with a crate-load of
Valentines"
Morley remained patient. Those
valentines may be a lot more
effective than you think. Besides,
we're getting the experience of
flying under wartime conditions"
You take the experience" Tim
grimaced. I'm settle for a little
more personal satisfaction"
Morley turned fully at him and
fixed him with steady gray eyes.
Listen, Baker. I realize you're
annoyed because you're in a bomb
er-and not even in command of
that-but don't you ever think of
anyone but yourself ,"
Tim for a moment did not an
swer. His jaw stiffened He looked
ahead into the vast darkness over
Germany Then ne turned and met
Morley's eyes. Sure I dc" he said
with quiet meaning. AT certain
times. Sometimes l think of nv
girl Sometimes I even think Of
you when I think of my girl. And
I think what a fool you're making
Of yourself when you try to cut in
on me-"
The plane roared homeward.
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