The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-09
Conscripi's Wife
~ BETTY WALLACE

ANFAA=-AAA-I : TT - : 81
know vhst it, al about vst r
! have n write them later. clarity
inE sry points
IN - glad 70. Paul
NOV hs ~ss all engineer. and
~ she Was al secretary. No enc
seeing them half An hour later in
the richly psnelled confere nee
room which the hotel had put al
Paul, disposal. could possibly
have imagined that the stern.
grsy-eyed man With the strong,
oony Jaw and me sef-possessed.
commanding voio. Vas in love
with this small. redhesded stem
osrsphsr.
She took her notes dsftly. but
she couldn't possibly have unrav-
slled the meaning, Of half N.
terms which her boss and thes.
other Dig, grave engineers we're
using Certainly, Martha knew.
not one of the automobile men
bothered to give her more than q
fleeing glance.
The conference lasted until sf-
ter s. One of the men suggested.
Send out for something to eat 80
But they didn't. They rushed the
discussion 10 q close and shook
hands all around. See you at
2. then, Mr.. Elliott Finish Up all
the ends"
/ The long notebook she had sent
out for was almost filled. Page
after page Of her neat. shorthand
hisroglyphics. Paul" she ssid.
Il ought to transcribe these while
they're reasonably fresh. You
could get a typewriter from the
management, couldn't you"
7 could. but I won't Take It
back to the office with you Bet
ter yet, stay tonight, take the rest
of the stuff in the morning
We could Fly back together"
Martha stirred uneasily. You
won't really need me in the morn
ing"
u will. God only knows what
may pop into their heads. tell
you. they're fogsy. Building plane
parts isn't like fahricating auto
parts. They're experts in their
line. But this is my line and
81 don't think the Chief meant
for me to stay"
I'll phone him When he hears
how it's been going. he'll want
you TO stay"
CHE felt dazed. bewildered. This
~ morning. when she woke up
in Mrs. Larkin's boarding house,
she hadn't had the faintest notion
that tonight she'd be in New York
with Paul.
With Paul An ominous little
tloubl fhOth f7AiAf AhNht ~
camp-out of the Eusrdhouse by
now-hsd already received her
note. telling him that she had left
lHelen's. Although they had quar-
relied, although she WAS not sure
of what would come now, her
spine crawled at the thought of
Bills ever finding out about this.
Never in the world would ne be-
lieve the simple truth, Not after
all the things they'd said TO each
other, not after his bitter, Back!
Back to Paul.
II can't stay, Paul" she told
him.
His eyes were suddenly very di-
rect. Don't he a fool. Martha.
I'm drive you to well-known
woman's clubhouse Just block
from here"
She gathered up her pencils. the
notebook, her handbag. Her face
was hot. Il simply can't stay
Paul. Surely, after all we've been
through already. you should un-
derstand that
GO he took her back to the air.
; - port. in taxi, his pipe between
his teeth and his eyes hard. He
: bought her a ticket for the e:20.
and they ate almost in silence in
the beautiful Airport Terrace.
Twinkling lights on the field be-
low, the hum Of airplsne motors.
the sound of wings in the dark
ness above them. did nothing TO
tighten their mood.
L can't help it. Paul" she tore
out once. Il love Bill and he-he's
crazy enough, already"
But she never dreamed, IN that
moment, exactly how crazy Bill
was 10 be. She never guessed,
either then in the restaurant, or
, later. after midnight, when her cab
pulled up in front of Mrs. Lsrkin's
boarding house. how appalling vas
81. situation, that awaited rer