The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-29
. SERIAL STORY
LACE IN JAIL CHAPTER XIX

The police matron came into the block of cells a few moments after Judy had been placed there. She pulled the 10-watt bulb in Judy's cell, dinly lighting the drab iron cot with its brown blanket, the tin wash basin, the barred window pane that was too far from the cement floor.
 The matron was a middle-aged woman, thin and small, and gray eurls bobbed around her face and her mild blue eyes.
 Now she smiled at Judy. My, my, child, what a pretty dress !" she enthused. Most of our brides wear gingham or some kind of suits. Honest to goodness, you're the first one to be all dressed up like a paper angel. Did you get the worth out of the dress, dearie7"
 T never even was married" Judy's voice was gayer than 1t had been.
 "Well, now that's a pity. A fine dress like that and the lace all tearin'."
 The woman moved her head from side to side in sympathy.
 Judy examined the lace too. It was hopeleSsly raveled. Even in its rundown state 1t still held its pride.
 My grandmother wore this dress" Judy said, And my grandmother lived in the same red brick house for 5l years. She never thought her dress would be Exhibit A in the case of the People vs. her granddaughter, Or that 1t would take a jump out Of an air. plane"
 "Chil, you Jumped9"
 The womans eyes widened. and she sat down on the rough brown blanket.
 "Bailed out" Judy slid off her wedding veil. It was ruined beyond all mending. Maybe you could trim q blouse with this" She tossed the shimmering lace to the small police matron,
 Why she wanted to tell the pollcewoman her story she didn't know. Maybe because she wanted to straighten out It's twisted threads in her own mind and recital, well rounded. would make the parachute melodrama clear.
 At the close of the story the woman jumped up. Just think of that poor young man up there by himself all night long. Honey, he must love you some to do what he did.
 Judy glanced out of the small up- per window. The stars were out now, shining brightly in her corner of the sky. Then she whirled on the police matcon.
 You think he's coward enough not to come down7"
 Nc no honey, but hen work better if he isn't arrested. And ( thought you hated himr
 SOh, do. I love Phil. He's he's wonderful. If I wanted to marry him before, I want to marry him three times more now"
 Even while she spoke she won. dered why she had called Philip wonderful. It was such an or- dinary word. Any girl could describe any man with it and mean 1t.
 well. darling, here's e nice, neat, brown calico that will carry through till morning when the court sends for your stuff. There's Q pitcher of cold water and Q wash cloth and towel. If you want any, thing else jus: ring, You've got tho whoie women's quarters to yourself tonight" She smiled again, opened and locked the door, and her overrun heels hobbled away.
 A little wina came from some- where and ran along the window
 Judy's throat hurt. Her eyes were misty. She wanted to be at home, hearing friendly. laughing voices, knowing that marriage was c roof, shelter feet on smooth, thick-carpeted floor.
 She had been c fool, but she had landed safely. From now on M4lG Wbs DdkEs 4NO AAOAG AdlAASbW ladders across white clouds, on more bridges made from stars. no more wings.
 The cot was hard and uncom- Portable. Because she could not sleep she remembered, looking at the dark blue window. Were all windows made from memoriesP Were nights supposed to be a place, . stopping place, for some- thing that once had been lovely, something drab with times pass Age7
 When memories were done, those in which Phil and Sandy both moved, she caught her thoughts and pushed them to- gether firmly behind a mental door.
 if Sandy really cared for her, why didn't he offer himself in her place? For Q moment she had thought that he had cared. How did he know that Nhe made a successful jump2
 She began to think. There was Co be cross-country flight next week. Sandy had registered for 1t and paid the $l,000 entrance fee.