The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-27
Conscripi's Wife

lovely cascading collar Of blue
fox. into which her chin was
buried against the wind.
Going 10 pass me by" Martha
greeted her It's been months
since I've seen you
Suzane stopped. her eyes sud-
denly guarded. Hello"
That's a stunning outfit. Sue
Martha said. You make me feel
like going straight home and
dropping this thing I'm wearing
right into the ash can" In her
tone. there was no indication that
she remembered the painful scene
between them. there in the old
apartment.
But Suzanne was remembering.
Her eyes were still guarded and
she watched Martha narrowly az
she said. 7 played bridge with
Msdgs Willis. She told me about
the country club Dances
Martha stiffened. 1T was love-
~. Why didn't you come? -
Because Paul didn't ask me"
Suzanne said bluntly. He had
other fish TO fry. Look here. you
weren't fooling Madge any. or
Mary Grace, either. They know
what's been going on. After you
told me you wouldn't see Paul any
more! You were so naive, so in
nocently surprised when I put it
up TO you =. Oh. you just couldn't
believe Paul was in love with you.
and you never encouraged himl
But you're still running around
with him.
In sick dismay. Martha realized
that the same. uncomfortable ex-
element was shaking Suzanne
again. People were looking back,
in the winter twilight.
Suzanne rushed on, There's one
thing you forgot l said someone
might tell Bill. Suppose l drive
up to camp myself-you took
Paul with you, l notice, when you
went"
The sidewalk under Marthas
feet seemed suddenly less solid
than before. Her heart missed a
beat. 1t flashed through her mind
that she had lied to Bill about the
very country club dance which
most Infatuated Suzanne.
Suzanne, you wouldn't do
cheap trick like that, You can't
do it! To go out Of your way to
repeat false gossip-to upset Bill
for no reason"
For very good reason" said
Suzanne, coldly. She turned sud-
denly. Think it over, Martha.
mean It." Then she was walking
rapidly away, her slim back very
straight.
IN her room at Mrs Larkins,
L Martha threw herself on the
bed and wondered bitterly how
she could stop Suzanne from going
to camp and pouring garbled gos-
sip into Bills ears. 1t would be
such a sickening blow to Bill! He
had never dreamed there was
anything between his wife and his
best friend.
And there wasn't, Mar ha
thought. tossing restlessly. There
wasn't a thing-except that Paul
did love her. But his love was his
own business. He kept it under
control. never once had he tried
to tell her, or kiss her, or in any
way at all depart from the self
assumed role Of brotherly COM
panion.
She knew, lying there. that IL
any of this had come up while
Bill was at home. he would have
roared with laughter He wouldn't
have believed word of IL.
But while he was away, while
he scarcely ever saw her and had
nothing but letters and brief visits
to depend on. it was all too likely
that any malicious word might
sow the seed of suspicion. Night
after night, he was confined to tho
camp. knowing that Martha was
free to do as she pleased-know-
ing that Paul saw her every day
at the office
What can l do to stop su-
zanne? What can l do ?"
Suddenly she sat bolt upright.
Paul could stop her, III tell Paul
first thing in the morning
She felt better. having reached
that decision. She was brushing
her hair for bed. the heavy load
of dread somewhat lighter now,
when someone banged on her
door.
What is it"
Mrs. Marshall >" That was her
lsndlsdy's voice. A telegram Just
came for you"
Martha threw the door open.
Had something happened TO Biz
Her fingers tremhled as she ripped
the envelope. She stared down at
the yellow message while her
lsndlsdy stood there. asking hope
fully. Anything wrong >"
The wire was not from Bill. II
was from Eugene. her brother-in-
law. And 1t said. HELEN IN
HOSPITAL CRITICALLY Ill.
CAN YOU COME RIGHT
AWAY"
IT. N -.