The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-01
Nv BETTY WALLACE

AHN'AHAa
The man siEnsled a nurse ard
spoke 10 her. She went away 10
come back with something in
glass for Martha Drink this Il
Will hep YOU
Msrths pushed It away I don't
need anything jus, then. a doc
tor came out az the emergency
rom. and she ran toward him.
How Is he What Is IT lis
no going to % all right.a
Hes suffering from ooncus-
sion. said the doctor Not severe.
I think And he has a broken col
lar bone" He added hastily. 4
collar bone which is broken re-
quires merely a strappinE The
patient usually walks around IN
one piece. And the conclusion, l
feel sure, will pass off by morn
ing"
She wanted 10 see Paul I
think not" said the doctor. II
you don't want 10 stay here over
night, getting over the shock
you've had, you'd better 60 homo
and 60 straight TO bed"
She protested. but II was no uss.
The kindly stranger drove her
home. II was he who explained
10 Eugene what had happened,
Eugene was stunned. almost an
gry. For Gods sake. Martha,
what on earth were YOU two doing
away out there, on that hack
road. :"
The stranger said. IT don't
think she's quite up to questions.
Martha thanked him for all he
had done, and he patted her shoul-
der. Go 10 bed. There's nothing
10 worry about"
She could hear him. talking To
Eugene. as she undressed slowly.
Her arm, she found. was black
and blue, and there was a nasty
welt on her hip. Her right leg wss
scratched and bruised under the
iodine they'd painted it with at
the hospital. The mirror gave her
back the image Of a pale, big-eyed
girl with an angry scratch on her
cheek and tumbled hair. YEARLY.
she slipped into bed. Her head was
banging cruelty.
But she must have slept. She
must have slept as only the
exhausted can sleep, for 1t was
long past breakfast time-she
could hear Genie and Sis shouting
outside her window-when she
woke.
Eugene was home. Had TO
stay" he said. matter-of-factly.
"One day more isn't going to mat
ter"
Did you phon. the hospital
about PAUL."
yeah. He's all right"
Then she remembered Helen.
she must be worried about your
not coming last night"
IT sent message by the
nurse"
Don't tell her about this"
Think I'm crazy" He turned
to go. Are you hungry? I've got
some coffee
IN be out in a minute. | want
TO see Paul as soon as l can. too
Sure. But he's all right" And
then he said, standing there in
the doorway. Bill called up here
last night while you were out"
Martha"
He did From Camp" Regret
gnawed at her. IF I'd only
known, I'd never have gone out.
and all this wouldn't have hap
pened. Why in the world didn't
he let me know he meant TO
phone
Eugene cleared his throat. Mat
ter Of fact, he was kinda surprised
when l told him Elliott had driven
over here. And he said he'd got
ten some kind OF pass-right after
inspection this morning he'd leave
camp. To spend the weekend
with you"
Martha's eyes Few 10 Eugenes
you mean - he's on his way -
now ?"
Yes" said Eugene That's
what I mean. Can't take over a
couple of hours from camp on the
train. It's nearly IL now"
oh, my face! And-and he'll
want to see Paul
Her thoughts raced. Out OF the
back Of her mind, blotting out the
JOY and anticipation. there came
a sudden question. Had Suzanne
managed to see Bill at camp al
ready? Was that why he was
coming here, so Unexpectedly. and
So Immediately after Paurs
arrival.
TO be continued