The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-07
CHAPTER XNIV

NAAFAA 1T -AsNAk
TIVE CIR with the flying red hair.
orouehed over the wheel =
the ancient car that rocke;eI
along the state highway 50 reck-
iessly. vas crying She vas cry
ing although her EYES were drv.
ard her mouth was A hard and
bitter line She vas CRYING deep
inside herself-erying the sound
less. sgoniIed tears q utter des-
peration.
That was Why she drove 50 fast
ana 50 wildly. That vas why she
shidded over the little wooden
bridge on the outskirts OF Bavv!ue.
and scarcely noticed that she
missed a truck by inches. And
that vas why, when she pulled
up with a scream Of brakes. OUT
side the bungalow on Grace street.
the dog which came barking loy-
ously 10 greet her skunk off. fright
ened and bewildered as she
pushed him aside.
Helen was sitting on The porch.
while the baby slept. she
lifted her head. The knitting
dropped TO her lap Why. Mar
tina. what $ wrong
The sound Of her sisters voice
reused Martha Wrong she
echoed harshly, "Nothings wrong.
Evsrythings beautifully right
She sat down on the glider beside
Helen. I'm going back to MY
Job"
MARTHA did not think beyond
A'l that until her suitcases were
packed and ready Butch was in
the back seat; she had kissed the
baby goodby. and Rugged Sister.
She was shaking hands with &C.
ME. trying not to see that Helen
was still puzzled and hurt, when
Eugenes matter-of-fact question
came. Are you sure Air Trans
port will take you back, Martha -
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 abe drove back, that
sunny afternoon. "a whole hours
after she had walked out on Bill
In the guardhouse, she turned
that over in her mind Bill had
been right, after all Gong back
to Air Transport meant gong back
TO Paul
She played with the idea Of
trying for a Job somewhere else.
Her pressure on the acoelerator
lightened. and she mentally
skinned list of places where
she might inquire. But almost
she knew she couldn't
afford 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 10 Paul was to admit
that most of what Paul had said
was true.
Unwillingly. she remembered
Pauls voice saying As long as
you're happy with Bill, I'm salts
fled TO remain out Of the picture
Would he be satisfied Il he found
out the reason for her coming
back?
Il won't ten him she decided.
oh, ! mustn't think too much. I
mustn't get all mixed up The
only thing that matters is that I
need my job. ! need TO be inde-
pendent again. need my self
respect and time to get over this.
Time too decide definitely
CHE drove straight to Mrs. Lar
~ kin's house. That lady was
glad to see her. comfortably IN
aware 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 new
er does much good. All kinds Of
times, in a lifetime. always say.
The ups and the downs and your
sister. having three young ones
and all-why-you'd almost ex-
oect something like that"
Her voice flowed on. while she
stretched fresh sheets on the bed
and helped Martha unpack the
suitcases. You take ne. rad
my share. I can tell you Five
children. ! had. And Mr. Lsrkin.
God rest his soul. no help at all
when ! was sick a DAY. The man
couldn't lift finger around the
house without ne broke some
thing. II I'd had a sister 70 come
and help ne lucky woman I'd
have thought myself, And the
airplane factory. too - such nice
folks TO work for - letting you
stay away weeks at the time.
Mrs. Lsrkin was 50 busy talk
ing she almost overlooked Butch.
Finally, % course. she got around
70 him This your dog you were