The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
CHAPTER XXX

into hers with concern and quick
 pleading humility. For the split
 second that faintness overcam
 her, she knew a sharp, leaping re
 lief - relief almost unendurabl
 In its ecStacy. She clung to him
 6eing in that one look the ney
 haggardneSs of his face, tn
 &hamed uncertainty in his eyes.
 But in the next moment she wa pushing him away. She was stand tlg straight and rigid, the ange and despair which had whipped her on through the dreadful hour making her lips tighten and hel voice hard.
 "Where were you all this timef Don't you qnow we've been look. ing for you? I almost went out oi my mind. Paul had detectives 1T New York - Suzanne hired detec- tiveS here - phoned the camp they said you'd deserted - where were you? Why did you do it?"
 Bills eyes dropped. He kicked nnorosely at a pebble.
 "Where were you?" she cried again. T looked for you all night All day yesterday. Where were you?"
 After I - I knocked Paul down q = had to hitchhike from New York. went crazy, Martha. l didn't come to until they kicked me out of the hotel But knowing you'd gone back to him"
 'Oh, Bill, don't start that again I told you I've never been in love with him, didn't go back to him!'
 Suddenly all the anger left her, the passionate desire to convince him. "Oh, never mind, Bill. That doesn't matter now Do you know you're a deserter? You've got to get back to camp quickly! You must do everything you can to make them go easy on you"
 I've made dreadful mess of things he admitted morosely. T guess it's too late"
 "No! It isn't too late! Oh, Bill get into the car with me. You drive, please Drive fast! We'll get to camp, I'll speak to the com- manding officer. Perhaps they - they're not so heartless after all.
 He laughed shortly. Our trou- bles don't concern them. Discipline is all they care about"
 And they're right! You should never have done it. No matter what happened, your first duty was to the Army"
 Duty" he said. Its their fa- Norite word"
 Its a big word, Bill. A solemn word"
 As she sat there beside him, while the old car strained over the road, Martha thought of the guardhouse where she had found him last Sum- day. Would this being absent with out leave mean longer term in the guardhouse? More severe punish ment? Bill, will they court martial you?'
 T don't know" He turned and his eyes met hers. All know. Martha, is that I'm ashamed in my soul to have given you all this trouble. IT could get down on my knees to you, I could - could cut of my arm but it wouldn't help. Nothing could make it right again.
 "Oh, Sweet, will you ever trust me after this? Can you ever for give me for my suspicious? I-I'd do anything, if only you'd give me another chance!"
 "The Army's got to give you another chance" she said steadily. That's our first concern. After that oh, Bill, I've never stopped loving you!" She lifted her tear stained face. Bill kissed her swiftly. Then they turned their faces reso- lutely straight ahead = to the im- mediate future that awaited them at the camp.
 Two hours later, going down the road that led to the sentry hut and the cantonment, Martha saw Suz- anne's car. Bill! There's Paul and Suzanne!" Bill touched the horn button. Paul and Suzanne tumbled out of their car in surprise and re- lief.
 "Oh, Martha, you found him!"
 "Yes." Her smile was tremulous. sThere's no time now. Bill must report at once. Wait for me"
 As Bill stepped on the starter, Martha saw Paul turn to Suzanne. You've been wonderful" he said simply.
 Suzanne answered, T was wrong about those things I said at the hospital, Paul I know now none of them was true. But you should have known, long ago, Paul-Td do anything for you"
 Martha thought, as they were left behind there on the road, that | perhaps this crisis had worked a | minor miracle. It had brought Paul 1 closer to Suzanne - it had given | Suzanne chance to atone. How | odd, that my life and Bills should | touch the lives of others at every
 She did not need, now, to hear Paul tell her that he, too, had been wrong. He had thought loving her was only his own buSiness-that it could have no effect on others while he locked it in his own heart. But 1t had-it had poisoned Bills mind and Suzanne's.
 But that's over now. Paul has learned, too"
 A swift word to the sentry, and they were driving through the samp street. stopping at the' ad- building. Bill raced put, Martha behind him. She taught up with him. whispered 'One more kiss, darling. Then lou1l face them. And so will IT.
 A moment later, Bill was smartly lRluting a young officer. Private Marshall reporting, sir. I- I've )een absent without leave"
 The young officer looked at Mar ha. Her chin came Up. May ! peak Co the commanding officer, Ilease?"
 Blll was led away, after q last Dng look and her smile. sure and F0lid, Co Atiffen his spine. No AM4NMm aalIaaN aAtsaAa s4ARf Htfl aass !