The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-08
PAUL FOLLOWS ORDERS
 CHAPTER HI

Martha Marshall stood on the platform, watching with tear-blur- red eyes as the lights of the train grew dimmer and dimmer in the distance. She scarcely noticed when the crowd of people began pushing toward the stairs. Someone behind her said wearily, Well, that's over"
 For Martha, it wasn't over. It was just beginning. She thought of the empty apartment - the silence and the memories that were waiting for her - and her Throat frightened.
 Paul touched her arm. You didn't eat dinner" he said. Do you want to stop somewhere and have something now?"
 "I-I couldn't Paul"
 Out in the car, Butch was whin- ing, his nose pressed against the glass, He bounded out as Martha opened the door. He licekd her hand. Then he looked behind her. His head cooked to one side, in quiringly. He seemed to be ask ing, "Where's Bill?"
 "He's gone, boy" murmured Martha. "Gone for a long time. There's just you and me, now"
 Well" Paul said gently. There's me, too. Remember, promised Bill I'd look after you"
 Martha didn't answer. She patted the dogs head and remem- bered the far-away day she and Bill had first seen him. He'd been a scrawny little pup in the arms of weeping small boy.
 My father don't want him, the boy said, huddled up on the curbstone. He had looked at them with tragic brown eyes. T just can't take him to the pound They'll g-g-gas him."
 The puppy had pathetic bowed legs and a funny, wrinkled little muzzle. Martha had reached for him and the little boy asked eagerly, Do you want him, Mis- sus? Do you? Hes a good dog. He don't eat much. Honest, he don't"
 Bill coughed. "IT give you a dollar for him."
 Gee, Mister!"
 For nights afterward Martha had had to get up to feed the crying little puppy. He had to be house broken and there was the problem of what to do about hlm while they worked.
 Bill cursed himself for ever having bought the animal. Yet he was the one who said, Its tough on you. coming home from the office and strengthening the dump, anyway. Let's get a woman to help-she could fix our dinner too-and then she'd be here to let the pup out during the day"
 Martha" said Paul, touching her arm. Martha, what is it?"
 She shook the memories from her. She mustn't go of into dazes like this. There was so much to re- member - but she had to keep go- ing, had to bear up. After all, she thought, trying to whip herself into being sensible, she had been alone before she married Bill.
 Butch scrambled back into the car. Martha got wearily in behind him. Paul didn't ask if she wanted him to drive. He simply held out his hand for the key.
 They were almost home when Martha said, Wait, Paul. IT guess I am hungry, after all" She couldn't face the empty apart ment. Not just yet ..
 "You must have been hungry" said Paul, in a restaurant few minutes later, as she lifted roll to her lips and put it back without tasting it. "Now, listen, Martha. You've got to be reasonable. He's not going off to do or die - mo- body's going to take potshots at him. It's just training"
 T know" she smiled wanly. 'I know"
 well, for Pete's sake, buck up!"
 "I1l try
 He fiddled with his fork. q promised Bill I'd take care you" There was very little smile around his mouth. I'm not going to let you nope. Why, you won't even have time to miss the guy. Because you and I are going to be very gay. Very patriotic, see? The chin up. the spirit fearless, and body parked in movie every night"
 But she couldn't summon even a smile, so he took her home. After he had said goodnight,