The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-04
TROUBLE AHEAD
CHAPTER XXVI

"Oh, Paul." Martha cried, in mix.
 ed gladneSS and diSmay "Yol
 shouldn't have come" Yet ever
 while they walked through the busy
 glassed-in passenger loading under. pass to the administration building
 she felt a little throb of relief that
 she wouldn't have to buck this be-
 wildering hugeneSs alone. How die
 you ever manage to get away iron
 the conference
 What was the sense of tWid-
 ding my thumbs in the hotel?" He
 looked down at her with undis- guised joy. Its good to see you!
 When did you get back to the of- fice?"
 Yesterday"
 I'm glad you came to your senses, Martha. One day of the office has worked wonders"
 She couldn't help dimpling "Only the difference between my best suit and newest hat, and Helen's printed house dress and the accompanying symphony of baby howls."
 As they entered the great round room which was the main ticket office of the administration build ing, Martha's breath caught. Why its, it's lovelier than Grand Gen. tral Station!"
 She had a swift impression of warm, pinkish marble; of gold glinting brass. The room was spa ciouS, modern, somehow thrilling. She looked up to the domed ceil- ing and saw that an enormous globe, the continents and oceans of the world in bold relief, was sus- pended above them. At each side of the room were the busy coun- ters of the various airlines, and in the center, an enormous circular information desk Martha couldn't take all the splendor in at once, and Paul was. already rushing her.
 Tn the cab. she wanted to stare out and get her fill of LaGuardia Field. Paul wanted to talk. You haven't told me anything. Why did you come back to the office? Did the NAAAC1 lC4I yOQ dOOup bIIC dW1Q LII we had without you?"
 She brought her eyes back. re- luctantly. He told me. With gestures" Paul looked rather fit, considering that he had been in the hospital so recently. "How's your collarbone?"
 Its all right. I'm good as new. Look here, Martha, what hap pened? Did you suddenly come back to your senses-or did Bill"
 He stopped. His eyes clouded. "Bill's still sore about what Su- game said, suppose?"
 There was no point in evading. ~Yes. He's = he's being very silly about 1t. Oh, Paul, I'm so sorry it ever happened! If you had only listened to me when tried to tell you!"
 Somehow, against her will, the old regrets tore at her She re- membered Bills sullen eyes, the hurting way that he clung to his suspicious. But she must not tell Paul abou Bills senseless rebel lion, there at camp. She must not tell him that she had come back to the office because she could bear no more.
 She touched the briefcase that lay on the seat between them. Hadn't you better be checking this over, making sure it's all in order? It'll be almost when we reach the hotel, and your men may be waiting"
 Paul drowned, but his fingers worked the tiny brass catch. He drew the crisp papers out, and Martha gave herself again to They were skimming along some sort of parkway, now. Against the horizon, she could see tall gray buildings in the sunlight. The cab slowed as they left the parkway behind. Traffic snarled around them, caught them up. They went over a bridge and then they were in the choked streets of 
 The hotel was marked by a striped canopy and huge door man with gold on his shoulders "Impressing the automobile men, Paul?" she smiled.
 T always stay here"
 Of course. She too frequently forgot the fact that Paul has ac- customed to a great deal of money to all the conven- fences and luxury which money could buy.
 He said, Martha, do me fa- vor. As long as you're here any, way, sit in and take notes of the whole proceedings, will you? Then I won't have to remember all the | endless details, and there'll be less chance of slipping up on anything ! Important. These boys don't quite know what it's all about yet. If | have to write them later, clarify- Ing any points"
 "I'll be glad to, Paul"
 Now he was all engineer, and she was all secretary. No one, seeing them half an hour later in the t0t tNI RI1 1.I