The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-09-23

House, was approved Dy the DOarQ
there and told to undergo a med
ical examination, which she pass
ed Al. Now she was to report for
duty at ten-thirty tomorrow
morning.
There remained only this last
evening of freedom.
MAY I borrow your flashlight?"
she asked Stella. 'The battery of
mine is dead"
Eyes, of course. Rupert's call
ing for me and he'll bring me
back here. I shan't need it. OAR
ling, 1 wish you'd dine with Rup-
ert and me. You know we'd love
you to. And we could probably
get an extra seat for wild
Strawberries"
Jane shook her head. "Two's
company" she said with little
smile.
Stella told her not to be absurd.
Rupert Grant :" she began.
II know. He's an old friend.
Three won't be a crowd, and you
think it's a grand idea. No, thank
you, my pet. AS 1 said before, I've
made my own plans for this even
ing"
She picked up the torch as she
spoke, told Stella she hoped she'd
enjoy the theater, sent her love
to Rupert Grant and left the
apartment. Down in the hall the
doorman sprang to open the front
door for her. "Taxi, miss?"
mo, thank you. I'd rather
walk"
She emerged into the gathering
gloom of a darkened London.
Nice to be living in the heart of
the West End, she reflected,
thinking that she and Stella had
certainly progressed in their mode
of living since those early days
when they'd first taken an apart
ment together. Then they had
had two rooms and a kitchen with
a bath in it, on the top floor of
dilapidated house in Blooms
bury. They'd bought twenty
two pounds worth of furniture on
the installment plan and their
curtains had cost a shilling yard
and had been made at home. Now
they were in a modern apartment
hotel stones throw from Picca-
dilly. Their combined incomes
made this possible.
Jane had felt a little worried
about the financial end of things
when she had come back from
Victory House with the knowl-
edge that she was to report for
duty so quickly. Stella had told
her instantly that she was doing
very we'll despite the war. And if
things went against her - we'll,
she'd just have to find a tenant
for the apartment. Whatever
happened Jane wasn't to worry on
that score. What did worry Stel-
la, was how Jane was going to
manage on one and fourpence a
day.
This was worrying Jane, too.
Still there was nothing she could
do about it. What really matter
ed was that deep down in her
heart, once she embarked on this
new life tomorrow, would be the
warm glowing feeling that she
would be helping in her own
small way in this gigantic strug-
gle that her country was under
taking.
So intent was she on her own
thoughts that she blindly turned
a corner not noticing where she
was going. An Air Force officer,
hurrying along, head bent, collid-
ed violently with her. So sharp
was the intact that the little blue
hat went flying and had he not
put out swift arm to catch her
Jane would have gone flying into
the gutter after it. AS it was she
regained her balance, feeling
bruised, shaken and very much
as if a tank had come hurting at
her.
She reached for her hat, but he
picked it up before her. Il say,
I'm most terribly sorry" he said
earnestly. did I hurt your"
''That'S all right It was my
fault really. 1 wasn't looking
where was going"