The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1944-11-23
Password
o . .
By STUART M. LONG
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Released by WNU
0LJALT! Who's there?"

IL The sentry's cry, ringing out
In the still cold night, broke into
Laura's thoughts as she was hurry
ing home. How silly it was to have
planned a surprise visit to the ma
rine base without a telegram in ad,
vance! And here was a silly guard
who would make her stop to give q
password she did not know.
I'm Laura Archer, Colonel Arch,
er's daughter" she told the grim.
faced leatherneck who was barring
her path with rifle at the ready.
Advance and be recognized" he
ordered and, as Laura approached,
she saw that he was lean, tanned
and tall. She fumbled in her purse
for her Identification card, then real.
lied that it was in her travelling bag
at the station.
"T'm sorry I haven't my I'D. card,
but I am Colonel Archer's daugh'
ter . . :"
ANY other proof? Otherwise, you
don't move on" the guard broke in.
Laura knew she was wrong, but
she wouldn't let a boot get away
with turning her from the post where
her father was commanding officer.
"You just call the colonel" she
ordered CURLY.
Look, lady, don't you know any.
one less than the Skipper" the
guard asked. II can't be waking
him up at O-one-hundred to ask him
to come out here"
If you don't, you'll be up for
office hours tomorrow" Laura
threatened.
Corporal Of the Guard, Number
Seven" the marine sang out and,
when the shouts for him had echoed
down the line from sentry to sentry,
out of the shadows on the double
came the husky noncom.
This lady says she's Colonel
Archer's daughter, Corporal, but
she has no Identification" the SEN
try reported. "She threatened me
with Office hours If I don't call the
Skipper"
Il wouldn't call him out in this
storm for another stripe" the cor
poral vowed. Turning to Laura he
asked, "Are you really Colonel Arch
er's daughter? I've been here seven
months and I've never seen you
around"
I've been off to school. Please
let me in," Laura pleaded.
An hour later, having been grilled
by the men on duty, a tired yet
tuning Laura was sent to her IA
Tiers quarters, where she was ad-
mitted on assurance from the sleepy
colonel that she really was his
daughter.
Next morning, when Laura came
tripping down to her fathers car,
she found that square-jawed, lean
and hated face behind the wheel.
Where to, Miss Archer?" Private
Gillespie queried.
NY father will be out in a min
ute,' she answered. 1.-THE colonel
will tell you where to drive"
Private Gillespie's neck Redeemed.
He offered weakly, I'm sorry about
last night. Miss Archer, but you
know the General Orders"
She turned her upturned nose to-
ward the parade ground and began
a close inspection of a platoon which
was drilling there. Private Giles
pie watched in the mirror. mice
looking platoon" he ventured. THAT
d.. was my bunkie in boot camp.
He sure does put them through,
doesn't he?" He continued his mono
logue, his warm drawl melting the
icicles from his listener. He told
her his name and about his ranch
back in Texas. Then he brought up
the sore subject again. Il said I
was sorry about last night, Miss
Archer" he began, but just then
he had to spring out to open the
door for Colonel Archer. He was
ordered to drive to the parade
ground where the colonel was to in
spect the recruits completing basic
training that morning.
Laura decided to see the review
from the car.
Private Gillespie returned to the
front seat and resumed his watch.
"Today's pay day. Miss Archer. and
I have liberty tonight. will you have
dinner and go to a show with me?"
he suggested. 1T would kind of
make up. . :"
Just then the rear of a tank bang
ing along the drive halted the one
way conversation. From the pa
rade ground, a thousand frozen
faced recruits, waiting at attention,
saw the man in the turret swept to
the ground by a low-hanging limb.
His left foot, straining unconscious
ly for a toehold, nudged the left
shoulder of the driver, who was
the massive iron monster
by signals. The tank swung to the
left. the guide lying unconscious in
the road.
The colonel's car leaped ahead,
its motor screaming, as Private Gil
lespie turned the key, touched the
starter and let out the clutch. 1t
pulled to n side and stopped as
the changing tank roared past,