The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-12
Conscripi' S Wife
Continued From Page Ia
By BETTY WALLACE

she had heard. STORIES N which
men like that went out or Wild
benders, Keeling through the streets
OF strange cities, meeting with un-
speakable accidents. Fear. a dark
and psralyzing force. grew swiftly
and relentlessly. Her numbed
brain. her tired body. could fight
it off no longer.
oh, Paul. 7 know Bills hurt.
Maybe he's dead. Wed have found
him II he weren't in q hospital
somewhere. Or morgue feel il.
Paul. feel it, She was ba billing,
suddenly unable to curb this hys-
terra.
Pauls foot tramped on the
brake. Suzanne said. She's csved
in, that's all. Take us home. Paul.
I'll put her TO bed.
No, no. I must 60 on. We must
find him. Even If he's dead. I must
know"
He's not dead" Suzanne said
hsrshly. We'll find him. But you'll
be a wreck on our hands if you
don't get some rest"
Lying in bed, Martha's fears
marched on in her mind She
couldn'- rid herself of the terrible
pictures of Bill hurt, Bill killed.
Suddenly chill shook her, and
then another. She was shuddering
in uncomfortable spasms. and SUI
zsnne. frightened, sent for the
doctor.
Martha never knew what SUI
zanne told him. Her teeth we're
chattering. her head was SWIM
ming. but she kept moaning. Doc
tor, I'm all right. If they'd only let
me up I've got to do something.
I've got to find HIM"
You've got to get quiet,
Madam" The doctor swabbed a
spot on her arm, jabbed in the
needle, and said, Now 60 to
sleep"
Il can't, I can't"
But in a little while. she felt the
drug taking hold. Dissolving some
thing in her brain which wanted to
hold on. Something which fought,
and was losing slowly
TT was morning when she awoke.
Late morning. And Suzannes
face told her at once that Bill was
still missing. "Paul's on his way
over. We're driving to camp. to
look around the town close by The
detective thinks maybe he went
back and didn't have the nerve TO
report. Sometimes they do that"
Not Bill, Martha thought bleak
ly. If he went back. he'd seen it
through all the way. But she said
nothing. Her mind seized on the
fact that Paul and Suzanne were
going away. Shed be alone. She
could get up-look for Bill her.
self
She lay there. uncomplainingly.
while Paul came in and asked how
she felt. She nodded when he said,
You must stay in bed, Martha.
The doctor says you must Re-
luctantly, he left with Suzanne.
She waited until she heard the
car start off Then she got out of
bed resolutely.
A cab took her to the garage
where she had left Peg, after she
drove Butch out to the farm.
Standing there in the garage watt
ing for the man to get the dilapi-
dated old car out from behind the
truck that hedged it in. Martha
thought suddenly. The farm!
Butch! If Bill were anywhere in
town-if he was upset. didn't know
where 70 go-he d think of Butch"
Her lips began to CULVER. OF
course,
CHE remembered how she had
~ thought of Butch as the only
child they had. She recalled how
Butchs warm body. his adoring
brown eyes. the little rough kiss
Of his tongue, had been her only
comfort in those dark moments
when she was driving away from
Helen's, back to Air Transport,
after her quarrel with Bill.
Bill loves Butch even more
than do" In a great shining blaze
of certainty, she drove out of town
to the farm. She ran from the car
straight through the path to the
runway in the back Of the house.
Butch" she called TREMENDOUSLY.
Butch"
There was the answering bark
OF a pack of animals. The high
yelping of a little fox terrier, the
growl Of a chow. Butch's own
familiar sharp. delighted voice.
Then, rounding the corner of the
house. Martha stopped short. For
Butch was barking. jumping ex-
citedly at the feet Of 8 tall man in
olive drab.
Bill" she screamed. "Oh. Bill,
we've looked everywhere for you"
TO Be Continued)