The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-26
APRIL BEGINS TO PAY
CHAPTER XIV
winkie App,eman was strugglinl

Wrinkle App,eman was struggling to his feet in front of Aprils car.
 Winkie was old, had the repu- tation of being lazy, shtttless, ana sly. He had never been in any real trouble but once, when Aprlfs father had been district attorney, there'd been some sort of run-in with the court which had resulted in Wrinkles being sent to the workhouse for 30 days to "straighten him up"
 It was sWinkie who had been at the station platform the night when Kent arrived from camp on leave. Winkie, in fact, on whom April had fastened her eyes as someone known and familiar in the first shock of learning Kent was blind.
 Now Winkie, shivering in tat tered clothes, was pushing oil Rents arm, April started to move, but found her foot had been pinned under Rents bag when it had toppled from the seat. She felt . knife of pain strike through her ankle and then the numbness Bettled again, muffling her, dead ening her senses.
 Winkie clutched the side of the car with groan.
 April Burnett. I know youl Lawyer Burnett's daughter, ain't you?" His voice burst from groans to shrillness.
 "Yes, Winkie. Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Are you hurt?"
 Hurt? We'll see, April Burnett. You with your reckless driving, knocking an old man down. You with your high-stepping ways and no regards for the rights of others"
 Please, Winkie. I'm sorry!'
 Winkie doubled and then jerked up again Huh, I know you young lady. Think you're some thin, don't yuh. Running all over the countryside these last two days with your sisters fella. I'll make a town scandal outa this"
 Before she could cry out, April saw Kent Carter's arm spin Winkie around. Then, crash Rents fist struck Winkie, a blindly aimei but stinging blow that slashed across the mans face.
 Winkie made blubbly, retch- ing 2ound and toppled beside the cGr.
 When April looked up again, she saw the young rookie who'd been detailed to travel with Kent. The rookie saluted, mumbled something and then picked Winkie up by the coat collar and de- Gosited him on the station plat form.
 { Then he saluted again, even though Kent couldn't see it, and said, I'm Private Estes. The ex- press is just pulling in."
 He opened the car door and whisked out Rents luggage as the locomotive rolled to stop.
 Kent turned, nodded once in the vague direction of April and, without a word of goodby, hurried towards the train with the rookie guiding him.
 April watched him; saw the way he walked erect and unbending to the car steps; saw the white coated porter grin and bow as he helped him. Then, as it had been on that first night, the whistle blew and the locomotive eased out Of the station, a black dragon flay- ing through white valley.
 Jerking, April's eyes came back to meet the bloodshot ones of Win kie Appleman.
 "You'll pay for this" winkie threatened.
 The station was deserted, the waiting room empty. Even the handful of town taXicabs which usually stood at the other end of the platform had rattled off with passengers who'd arrived on the
 "Yuh," winkie was hollering Syou1l pay and pay plenty"
 Blood spurted on his cheek, his hat was a battered rim of felt irl his hand.
 April opened the car door ''Hurrry. I'll take you to a doctors to hospital"
 Think I'd step foot in that carp
 ''But, you may be injured. Tn so sorry, Winkie. Please get in"
 If I go to a hospital, it'll be in an ambulance" Wrinkles face twisted in a menacing leer. "Thi'