The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-11-02
. SERIAL STORY
PLAY BY PLAY
BY PAUL DAVID PRESTON

closely. Norman was watching
Nancy. too. she noted Well. that
much was all right Undenisbly
Nancy Wa pretty. And usually
Norman Dana made . pest 81 him
self paying attention to Blythe.
Big Duane just smiled al the
while and said little.
Maybe - yssl-Blythe suddenly
felt that she understood. Tomor-
row night. Wednesday. Nancy
would have a. dinner guests in
her own cute upstairs apartment.
This vas essential 70 her scheme.
And 30. Nancy was playing up"
TO Norman nowl Laughing and
talking with him In pretended
friendliness. just to be sure he
was nattered sufficiently to come.
She would already feel sure OF
Duane. Blythe vas appalled,
more than ever at the widows
calculating. conscieneeless nerve.
'Tt's Just like some Of the early
troubles the Jsps and Germans
handed u.s." Pop was saying. be-
tween forkfuls. We have to sx-
pect the unexpected. the setbacks.
We have to weave with EN-, and
come back scrappier than ever
before. lads. It's the only way TO
triumph In the end. The only
way"
Blythe understood that. Good
old Pop, softening the psyeholog-
ical blow of losing Heavy Under
wood from the lineup Thursday.
Putting new confidence and as
surance in the two stars minds.
Norman especially was given TO
quick flareups, emotional streaks
and such, in addition to what peo-
pie thought was conceit in him.
She, Blythe Miller. knew now that
Norman wasn't as oonceited az he
sometimes appeared. On one men,
orable occasion he had proved 1t.
She would always respect him for
that.
Anybody tell you how cute you
look In q red dress. Nancy" Nor
man himself said that. beaming.
"Why-nol How nicel"
Sure do. People say blends
shouldn't wear red. You correct
ed that. Mind IL stare?"
Nom Miller put In genially,
I'm sure Nancy is sweet In any
color, boys. I have never seen
q prettier girl"
"Umph," Pop grunted. mouth
full, nodding.
Blythe said nothing. She might
have said that the red dress was
once her own. Given to Nancy
after the car wreck, when Nancy
was penniless in the hospital. Oh.
to be sure. Nancy had since re-
membered to pay the asked-for
$40. for all that big suitcase Of
clothes. but that was only q token
to save pride; the dress was still
hand-me-down.
Suddenly as named of her
thoughts again, then. Blythe
forced a cordial smile. "You take
all the mems eyes, Nancy. Makes
me horribly jealousl"
They all laughed at thst-and
only Blythe herself knew that 1t
stung a little. Her sally hadn't
been wholly untrue!
'1magine" said big Duane.
you. being jealousl Or anything
else not -. well, not perfect"
Blythe was astonished. Duane
Hogan didn't say such things: il
amounted to an epic, from him
Never. never in their two years
of rather close friendship. had he
said so much of her and to her.
He had called her, Blythe per-
feet! True, he had gone right
on eating. just as II it were casual
and therefore inconsequentisl and
soon to be forgotten. But he had
said II, even 30. He hadi
You know" Norman was teas
ing again, "this business of invit-
ing cadets to eat is q wonderful
invention. Great institution! Why
don't more ladies do Il? Why
don't you, for instance, Nancy,
take lessons in II from Nom Mil
Ter. hmm? Or maybe ] should
talk to her myself. Look, Missus
Hale. as a hint to get some Of
your home cooking later will vou