The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-11-04
CHAPTER VII


the other woman showing clearly
in her eyes, she said, 'Tips would
never forgive you if he knew.
Don't you realize it's his job to 60
off on a stunt like this, that he's
got to 60, and what's more he
wants to. Can you believe for a
moment that he'd willingly shell
ter behind a woman's petticoats?"
Iris sobs ceased. She glared at
Jane. "Oh, don't be so damnably
British! I :. Tips means every
thing to me. LII 60 mad if any
thing happens to him." Her voice
rose Historically. Someone across
the road shouted angrily, Put
out that light! What's going on
there?" Jane pushed her into
the sitting room and closed the
front door.
you'd better try to pull your
self together" she said CURLY.
Cali can say is I hope there
aren't many women like you in
England trying to hold men back.
It will be poor lookout for the
country if there are"
Iris looked as if she could have
killed her. you're not in love or
you wouldn't say that"
Jane didn't take up that chal-
1enge. Instead she looked at the
clock on the mantelpiece. Her
heart stood still. It was close to
quarter to ten. Tips should have
got back in time, but what about
herself? Without another word
she dashed from the house, found
her bicycle and made off at top
speed, with a sickening feeling Of
certainty that she couldn't posi-
bly, be back in time for duty. At
ten-fifteen she was turning in at
the gates of the airdrome. She
put her bicycle in the shed, gath
cred together the things she
wanted and went in trepidation
to report for duty.
It was the next morning, Jane
had been severely reprimanded
by the officer in charge for being
late. She'd had the most uncom-
Portable quarter of an hour of her
life, but when it was over she was
comforted by the feeling that by
cones were bygones. It wouldn't
be held against her. Her story
that she'd gone to see friends and
had lost her way in the blackout
and had trouble with her bicycle,
had apparently been believed, to
her great relief.
Sparks said, Look, there's
Tips Poel-Sanders! I bet he was
sick he wasn't able to CO."
He was coming toward them
across the smooth green turf of
the flying fields. Sparks had told
her when she'd arrived last night
how he'd got back just after the
squadron had taken off. He'd
been to see friends, she'd under
stood. She'd overheard two Of
ficers talking about him, saying:
poor Tips you should have seen
his face when he found he'd mis-
sed the show"
II say, Lambolt, between friends
you two weren't together last
evening, were your"
Tips was passing them as she
spoke. If he saw Jane he gave
no sign of recognition. His face
was hard and set.
''Were you, Lambo1t?"
Jane hesitated. She wished
Sparks hadn't asked her this
question because she didn't want
to answer it. She said, 81 was and
I wasn't Sparks. Oh I know that
must sound absurd to you, but do
you mind terribly if we leave it
at that? It's a long and rather in
volving story
Sparks squeezed her arm.
''Don't be silly. You don't have to
tell me anything you don't wish
to-"
The other girls we're coming
along behind them. There was
but little laughter today. They
were all tired from being on du-
ty.
Jane said she'd put the kettle
on and make tea It was too early
to 90 to the cook house and get
anything yet awhile. "Anyone
else like some?"
There was chorus of accep-
lance.
''I'm going to lie down." said
Hunter.
"Do. I'll take you a cup"
Hunter seemed to have grown
UP overnight. James heart went
out to her. Even though she
might not be deeply in love with
Jimmie Stafford-and somehow
she hadn't really sounded as if