Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-29

on the accelerator, the car lurch-
ing heavily through the deep
hard ruts. Mona's mind flick
cred worriedly over the dryness
OF that packed clay, over the
speed Of the wind swooping by
them from behind.
At the Casilla - a combined
traffic tower and telephone ex-
change, Bing paused briefly.
"Emilioi" he shouted to the man
on the platform, Whats up?"
Mona wished she'd taken
Bing's advice to study Spanish.
She could understand only one
phrase in their quick exchange
.."telefone la casa de Sonora
Fernandez"
Bing said to them, Its near
the line between Fred's farm and
mine. I'll drop you two, come
back for you after Fred gets
lleIe 10 take over.
Susy said in a small, tired
voice, 1T was like this last time. Z"
Mona didn't even wonder then
what she meant. but while they
were climbing the slope to the
house, she remembered. She had
stopped to watch the headlights
of the car turn north toward the
-farer-Whieh- -Feddef-new,
much bigger. She wanted to ask
Susy how dangerous it was,
fighting a cane fire, but the
words wouldn't come out.
She asked instead, What hap
penedT last year, mean, the
other fire."
Susy spoke over her shoulder.
Fred got caught in a backfire.
HE did ?"
He wouldn't if he hadn't
been tight. He wasn't-much-
burned" They had reached the
house. Susy led the way in, going
through to her bedroom without
stopping, and began pulling suit
cases out of the closet with a
frantic sort of haste.
Mona stood in the doorway.
making no move to start her own
packing. Ever since Susy'd said
1T was possible to be caught in a
backfire. something was stirring
inside her. something she didn't
understand. She asked finally.
uncertain of her ground, "Susy,
what did you mean awhile ago
1t was like this last time, ?"
Susy pushed her hair up from
her forehead tiredly. Exactly
that. He was with that woman"
oh" Mona sat down on the
edge of chair, for the moment
quoting the persistent thought
of Bing. She asked softly, Gould
you tell me ABOUT IL!
Susy flung a load of dresses on
the bed. There's nothing to tell.
Fred and had a row-this was
last year-we couldn't agree on
where we'd spend our vacation
he thought I was being self
ish. Maybe I was. After dinner
that night he flung out of the
house, rode off in a car. I had
no idea where he'd gone. Then
about one o'clock-they called
about the fire. was frantic
about him till the Casilla finally |
located him at Mrs. Fernan-
dez's. 1t nearly killed me when |
Emilio told me. l didn't care
what happened TO him then-not |
even when they brought him
home. l suppose he'd expected |
me to forgive all when I saw
those bandages. But I wouldn't
even let myself go to him. At
least I've got some pride!"
Mona had listened, her eyes
thoughtful. There's one thing
Susy. Fred loves you"
Susy's face was white. why
do you say that"
Because / know. He wanted
to hurt you. That's why he's
acting like this 1 remember. -
Yes"
las kid, he used to be dread
full toward Mother - whom he
adored-when his pride was hurt.
He's suffered, Susy. I saw it in
his face when l first got here.
It's just he's so damned full OF
pride!'
Susy's hands hung listlessly be-
side her. Pride! We both have
hat"
Mona stood up and put her
arms round her. There
shouldn't be any place for pride
between people who love each
'ther." she said earnestly. Think
about that, Shsy. before you fin
sh packing" She went out
quickly.
From the window in her room,