The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-22
A YANK In THE Raj.
A New Novel by HARLAN THOMAS

YOU Tim murmured She began
TO pick up the letter again. Sud
denly. as she was on the point of
continuing. ne stammered, Mrs.
Pillby-if il hadn't been for Roger.
we'll wouldn't be here" He
broke off. She waited for him to
20 on speaking. we were trap
ped In the sesrchhehts Roger
flew in and drew them off us.
That's how 1t happened"
Mrs. Pillby laid her hand on
Tins. Thank you" After
pause, she smiled proudly. It's
rather wonderful. isn't it. that he
accomplished his purpose" She
looked squarely at Tim. Would
you like to hear what else Roger
said ?" she added.
''Yes-very much"
Here We are" She began to
read again, grave, smiling. calm,
i've been thinking a great deal
lately about that sbominshls hat
you were wearing last Easter-the
one with the turkey feathers
She pointed at the hat she was
wearing: Rather silly, isn't II ;"
Then she went on. and as she read
/ Tim felt he heard in her the same
half-humorous, half-deprecsting,
shy. and yet quitely earnest voice
that was Rogers. You must
have known the suffering it csus-
ed your dear ones, yet you wore
II rather defiantly-a and, l must
say. with a certain air-beesuse.
as you said. II was your Easter
hat. and therefore must be worn
at Easter I should like you
10 know that am wearing my
Easter bonnet-this warm much
the same spirit. Here / am in the
thick OF il and. 10 my sstonish-
ment. not the least bit afraid. Ma
turslly. I realize. there's a lively
chance OF being hurt, but. thanks
/ 10 you. have never been the NOR
bid type. I gather that to most
Of the chaps here, the whole thing
has come really as sort Of relief.
Everyone was 30 fun Of doubts and
uncertainties during the Munich
DAYS - remember - that was the
week Cousin Elizabeth married
beneath her. and we were all 20
delighted
Mrs. Pilby smiled at Tim and
explained. Elizabeth was his IA
vorite cousin. They played togeth-
or as children. Well. she married
=. oh. but I'm sure you couldn't
be interested in all that"
She took up her reading: The
lads appear to regard our spiritual
danger as OF far greater concern
than our physical danger and are.
therefore. able to look on the war
as not a bad thing At all. but as
a very good thing. which has pro-
vided all Of us-individuals and
oountry-sn opportunity 10 re-
claim something quite dear. All
Of which. confess. is rather be-
yond me
She looked up. The last time
Roger came 20 see me, I'm sure
Va. both were thinking something
like this. but o, course ~s were
far too busy being gay 10 talk
about IT,
I'm had been listening 10 her
with profound attention. he had
begun 10 hear In hsr not only the
voice Of her son. ou, the strange
mixture Of gsrrulousneSs and reti-
: esnoe. Of coolheadedneSs and OF
romance. Of WY humor and Of
fierce pride. that made up a whole
: nation
. What I'm trying 20 say. old
girl. Is; Don't grieve for me II
Commander Phelps should ever b
called upon 10 pay you a iugubr-
Gus visit. Winnie Churehill's Blood
and tears is such = plendic phrase
, and I'm sure it'n win the war
much more efficiently than that
; other fellows Guns or butter.
! She looked up al Tim. amused
! He really admired Mr.. Churchill
) tremendously-even threatened "a
get himself a bowler hat for his
!, sContinued OF Page 10. Column $