Evening star., 1943-04-19
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G DwMARION +fARGROVF
|MARION +fARGROW

After a pause she added, airily, and
Major Long and Captain Quillen,
too
"Myaaah," I sighed, wrinkling my
nose more violently.
"Oh there's Johnny" she suddenly
cried, "and he's going to take my
picture and" She tripped off
with beWitching smile for Rushemi
and running line of babble.
mo punctuation, said to Mulve-
hill.
Its Womans world, McGee," he
said, reaching for another slice of
toast.
A Touching Situation.
Get him away from me, Bush
emil" roared Pvt. Thomas James
l-cntgomery Mulvehill. Hes got
that gleam in his eye. Get him
away!"
you're just being difficult, Lieu
thcnas,' I told him. Just sit down
and relax The Lieuthomas laid
his enormous frame on the bunk
end started slapping his knees in
utter dispair.
What kind of deal are you trying
to swindle this time?" he asked.
Let's be reasonable, Private Null
Vehlll," I said, patting him reassur-
lngly on the shoulder. LAS you know.
! am now working on Captain Win
kel's sympathies to get a furlough
some time in February the first
half of February"
L know what's coming" he
screamed, land I won't do it! I can't
do it,"
Now, as you know, furloughs are
laden with little eXpenses-necessary
little expenses. To help me along
with the lead, Sergt. Sher and Pvt.
Busheml have already made philan-
throplc little loans. I have your name
on my honor roll here, Lieuthomas.
What's the dcnation?"
The Mulvehill cringed and edged
away. What do you need from ne?"
We'll" estimated, Il should say
$40"
Great gods and refugee children"
he gasped. Ten dollars he says yet!
Why don't you ask me for my life's
blood? Six dollars he owes me al
ready and now he's asking-oh, I
can't stand it! l can't stand it! Take
him away!"
A Fervent Plea.
my life's blood" he moaned.
where's the six I lent you two
months ago?'
That was only five weeks ago." I
reminded him gently, "and I've al
ready paid two of that back. Three
weeks ago paid it back"
yeah he protested, but you
borrowed it back the next day" He
rose and paced the floor. What are
they dong to me? My life's blood
they would draw from my veins?
Thirty-siX measly little dollars a
month I make-and he wants $40!
Maybe I'm Winthrop Rockefeller l
should lend out $40 clip! Thirty
six dollars, and he wants half"
You see me, Lieuthomas, a sad
and Work-Worn creature-an Alice
Slt-by -the-fire whose only hope for
the future is in the faint glimmering
hope Of furlough. Day after day,
week in and week out, I have worked
my trail fingers to the shoulder blade
to make things pleasant for you and
Busheml and Bishop. have patched
your quarrels with the mess sergeant.
I have saved you from the terrible
wrath of provoked rebels. 1 have
sat here at night, sewing buttons on
my blouse SO that you wouldn't have
to wear it hanging open on your
merry jaunts to town. Money could
not pay for the things I have done
for you and Bushemi. And now this.
Ten dollars between me and spiritual
starvatlon-and no $40. How sharper
than a serpent's TOOTH
Don't talk like that, Hargrove,"
he said, his voice cracking. Put me
down for TO-"
The mighty Mulvehill walked down
the barracks aisle, muttering to him.
self. I'm being crucifed," he bel
lowed and fell, a crushed hulk of hu-
manity, to his bunk.
(To be continued)
(Copyright, 1912. by Henry Holt e. COZ