Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-03-14

hard strained look Of stretched fiddle
string. For q moment she Was afraid,
then abe remembered that what hap
pened TO her no longer mattered. She
drew off the gloves and held than
between her white hands.
Miss Kate Hyde" ne continued, not
bothering to look at her telltale fin
gernails, that's right, isn't it7"
Yes" she said hoarsely. How did
you known"
"Ronnie was always talking about
you"
NO, no." said Kate How did you
know I wasn't Ronnie2"
Too short by half an inch"
Then why didn't you tell2"
Because I knew the message had
TO be right and there was no ttrne
for fooling around That's why bad
to bring you along, Miss Hyde. But
We have moment now. Be quick,
please. What happened TO Ronnie?'
She gave him the bare sequence of
events. 1T seemed the only way out.
she finished, and I'm sorry Topped"
"Flopped" he exclaimed. We're on
our way, aren't we?"
Yes she answered, but II I'd been
really good nobody need have known
about Ronnie."
He shrugged impatiently. Make
yourself at home in here You won't
/ be disturbed for hours since III be
on the bridge. Eat, wash, then get into
those gloves and keep them on"
He switched off the light and slipped
out. shutting the door behind him.
She welcomed the dark, 1t was like
a protecting mantle. She felt her way
/ into the bathroom and washed. Stu
/ in the dark she filled herself with
sandwiches and coffee then stretched
full length in the bunk. She slept at
once and hours later, though it seemed
only moment had passed, she was
awakened by deep booming, pro-
/ found vibration rather than sound
She struggled to her feet and colliding
with table and chairs found the door
and reached the deck.
/ A glare more violent than any aurora
borealis blinded her but soon her re-
/ adjusted vision took in all the start
ling scene. Trent's squadron had di-
vided into two columns, boxing between
them the wake of the convoy far
ahead, and every destroyer's battery
of searchlights as in full play. criss-
crossing, converging, sweeping the
waters and piercing the sky. There
was no gunfire, only the incessant deep
booming Of a veritable avalanche OF
depth bombs that streamed from the
flotilla's racks to tear the bowels OF
the sea.
Abruptly tragic apparition rose out
Of the churning waters, monstrou8
beast with cavernous nostrns and
black blood already pouring from It's
wounds. For a moment 1t lowered Ike
an obelisk against the sky, then sank
with rush and only spreading Slick
of oil marked the spot where it had
Stood Another wounded leviathan and
still another wallowed to the surface.
She could stand no more. sick at heart
she crept back into the cabin and
threw herself face down In the bunk,
but this time not to sleep. 1t was day
light when Trent came in and spoke
to her. She sprang to her feet and
faced him.
Lieutenant Cate" he said unsmn-
ingly, the papers won't say much
about it but your courage and devo-
ton to duty have been the means Of
saving several shiploads OF lives and
of bringing major action to a sue
cessful conclusion. I congratulate you
on the excellent performance Of your
mission"
OH" gasped Katherine and the
gasp ended in sob.
Don't" said Trent sharply You
can't go ashore crying like baby"
No she gulped. of course not"
The launch is already standing by"
he continued hurriedly land I've wire
lessed ahead for your car to be wait
ing on the dock. Goodby and good
luck"
Thank you. oh, thank you" she
murmured, thinking OF Ronnie. But
Trent had already gone.
(The End