The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-06
TO HELP WIN THE WAR
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
With a sense of unreality, Bar
bee listened to the conversation be-
TWEEN her father and brother.
Med - this is no time to joke
OF course, you're not going into
the Army as a private. You're too
valuable a man." Archibald French
spoke with utter conviction. The
sons of all his friends we're officers.
There was no reason why Ned
shouldn't have commission, too.
But Ned shook his head again,
I'm sorry, Dad - but / mean it.
I've no particular training to fit
me as an officer. So I'm going in
as private. Then If I show any
ability III be recommended for
Officers Training. That's the
American way to do it = the dem
ocratic way"
Mr.. French dabbed perkily at
his mouth with napkin. There's
no sense in being foolishly ideal
istic about this Ned" he opposed.
I'm the first place, you've no idea
of what you're letting yourself in
for, If you 60 as private. The
hardships-
That's just the point" Ned
broke in. TOO many officers don't
know what the life of a private is.
If I know, I'll be a better officer
when my time comes"
Charles Mowry spoke up. Il
think Ned's right, Mr.. French. It's
a fine thing he's doing. It's dis
grace the way every man with a
little education or money is grab
bling commission.
"It's no use talking anyway
Ned said. my minds made up"
Barbee saw the opposition
growing in her fathers face. She
made her decision quickly. Slip
ping from her chair she ran
around the table to Ned, threw
her arms around his neck and
kissed him. With her arms still
around Neds neck she smiled at
her father, exerting all her charm
| to win him over. Whatever hap
pened there mustn't be quarrel
between her father and Ned now.
I'm proud of him, Dad. Aren't
you?'
Mr.. French wavered and was
lost. When the two of them sided
against him, he was rarely able TO
| hold out. He swallowed hard.
"All right son. If that's the way
you want it. I only hope you don't
regret your decision"
Ned's face lit up. Il won't,
Dad"
Barbee went back to her seat, her
eyes very bright with unshed tears,
and pretended to listen while Ned
and Charles and her father talked
over Neds immediate plans. But she
wasn't really hearing what they
said.
Over and over in her head
tolled the dreadful words: Ned
is going to war! Ned is going to
war! My brother is going to war;
Ned and Charles went out i'm
mediately the meal was over.
Archibald French shut himself up
in the library. Barbee had a feel
ing that he wanted to be alone,
wanted to adjust himself to the
idea of his son going into the
Army as a private. That hurt his
pride Barbee knew. AS president
of the towns leading bank, and
with his finger in half a dozen
financial and civic enterprises he
could SO easily have made the
contacts necessary to get a COM
mission for Ned.
Soberly she climbed the stairs
to her room and closed the door
behind her. Her own reflection
looked back at her from the mir
ror opposite. 1t seemed so long
ago that she had stood there
preening In her new dress, a silly
frivilous girl interested only in
clothes and looking pretty. Now
SO many other things we're more
important.
The thought served as a spring
to action. Purposefully she took
Oft the blue dress, replaced 1t In
Its box, smoothed the protecting
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