The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-01
MARTHA GOES HOME
CHAPTER XXIV

The girl with the flying red hair
 crouched over the wheel of the an- 1 cient car that reelected along the state highway so recklesSly, was crying. She was crying although her
 eyes were dry, and her mouth was 8
 hard and bitter line. She was cry
 ing deep inside housekeeping the ] soundless, agonized tears of utter desperation.
 That was why she drove so fast and so wildly. That was why she skidded over the little wooden bridge on the outskirts of Bayville, and scarcely noticed that she missed 8 truck by inches. And | that was why, when she pulled up, with a scream of brakes, out side the bungalow on Grace street, Y, the dog which came barking joy 1 ously to greet her slunk of, fright ened and bewildered, as she pushed him aside.
 , Helen was sitting on the porch, knitting while the baby slept She lifted her head. The knitting ] dropped to her lap. Why, Mar tha, what's wrong?"
 The sound of her sisters voice ! reused Martha. "Wrong?" she echoed harshly. "Nothings wrong. Everything's beautifully right" She sat down on the glider beside Helen. I'm going back to my job" Martha did not think beyond that until her suitcases were packed and ready. Butch was in the back seat; she had kissed the baby goodby, and hugged Sister. She was shaking hands with Genie, trying not to see that Helen was still puzzled and hurt, when Eugene's matter -of- fact question came. Are you sure Air Transport will take you back, Mar tha?"
 For an instant she was stopped. Then she said, lightly, of course they will"
 Eugene's grin became sly and knowing. "Oh, I see, Your friend, Elliott -"
 Don't be a fool, Eugene!"
 But while she drove back, that after she had walked out on Bill in the guardhouse, she turned that over in her mind. Bill had been right, after all. Going back to Air Transport meant going back to Paul
 She played with the idea of trying for a job somewhere else. Her pressure on the accelerator frightened, and she mentally skim med list of places where she might inquire. But almost imme- deialely she knew she couldn't af- ford delay and job hunting. There was very little money in her bag. At Air Transport, she was a trained and valued worker. To some other firm, she'd be only an unknown quantity. Beside-her chin lifted to be afraid of going back to Paul was to admit that most of what Bill had said was true.
 Unwillingly, she remembered Paurs voice saying, "As long as you're happy with Bill, I'm satis- fled to remain out of the picture" Would he be satisfied if he found out the reason for her coming nackq
 T won't tell him." she decided. ooh, I mustn't think too much, I mustn't get all mixed up. The only thing that matters is that need my job. I need to be inde- pendent again - need my self respect and time to get over this. Time toto decide definitely"
 She drove straight to Mrs. Lar kin's house. That lady was glad to see her, comfortably unaware of the strangeness about her return.
 I've got your same room, still empty, Mrs. Marshall. Is your sister all better now? That's good. wanted to tell you, the night the wire came, that worrying never does much good. All kinds of times, in lifetime, I always say. The ups and the downs and your sister, having three young ones and all - why - you'd almost ex- pect something like that"
 Her voice flowed on, while she stretched fresh sheets on the bed