The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14
CHAPTER THREE

rhtlAeu anu ttfhnkflN inFiIed
Julie could not think Of sleep. sh-
sat down with a book and founs
Johnny Towne's face between he
eyes and the printed page. Wit
the realization. she put the bool
aside and took herself in hand.
She was behaving Nike = senti
mental school girl. romsncing owe
man Of whom she knew nothing
II was utterly ridiculous that shi
should be even slightly impressed
by the youth and good looks OF ,
stranger.
A Celebration
Rising. she dawdled about III
room, wondering IL Mike and Enit
had gone TO bed-they stayed VI
till all hours-she hadn't sesi
them for several days.
Crossing the hall. she stood
for = moment outside the clos
ed door. The murmur Of voices
came 10 her ears and she turn
I'd the knob, calling, MAY 1
come In"
OF course. julie - come In
We're celebrating. join rs. won
You y II was Enid who spoke. Al
attractive young woman VIII
looked possibly u and was yer,
likely 10 years older. She had
thin, intelligent face. q capsb l
way of moving about. Her eye
were bright and alert except whe'
she looked At Mike Patton an
she always looked at him when h
was in sight-they were adorini
eyes then, worshipful eyes.
Julie knew in a vague way tina
Enid always had loved her father
The alteration in her eyes had beei
noticeable when Julie was a nttl
girl.
jules mother had joked
about Enid-shs had been
Enid Russell then. She would
say, II suppose I should be
Jealous Of your secretary,
Mike, hut / haven't the
strength" or Honestly Mike.
It's pathetic, the hangdogri-
ness OF Miss Russells express
sion."
Mike always laughed with her
In those days Cleopatra hersel
would have had difficulty maxim
inrosds on Mikes love for his WIFI
He always said. Shes a dam
good secretary. should fret owe
the expression in her eyes.
Kind and Gentle
That was before the depression
That was before jules nothe
died. Enid Russell had stuck I
her employer as long as there wa
a shred Of hope that he Nigh
come back.
She had, without salary. see
him through several cropping. II
tile attempts and the subsequer
failures. And Mike. having leane
on her in a business way for year
gradually came 10 lean on her fo
comfort and companionship.
She dealt kindly and gently
with his dazed spirit. He was
Q little confused az to when or
where he had married Enid.
but he leaned on her grateful
". allowing her to support
him. dreary when she was
gone. rouslng 10 = semblance
of his old self at her return.
He rose as Julie entered N
room. smiling. holding out a lonI
fine hand. Mike Patton was bar
~ IS but his hair had turned whit
during the long years Of sdjus
ment. deep lines had etched then
selves into his face His eyes VET
sombeT. questioning, they WEI
tired eyes
Julie. taking his hand. though
Nike is different. he's UP on h
toes about something She smile
into eyes that we're less tired an
sornber.
How are you, youngst.r7" +
asked tenderly.
I'm fine she answered,
standing on tiptoe 10 kiss him.
Enid watched them jealously.
II uAs plain 10 b seen that
Enid wanted Mike for herself
Alone. that even his affection
for julie distressed her.
Enid says your celebrating
Julie said Is Il , birthday -
Mike pointed 70 = roll q bil
in the center ~ the table "Plsys
contract A. ire club his sfts
no, he explained Had = hur
~ luck
/ ~Isnt It wonderful. JUNE. IN