The midland journal., 1944-01-14

tAAAAAAAot0h001Cs i LA kldO YOu We
come" he shouted,
Anne got into Pete's car and sat
perfectly still, her eyes closed for
a moment, before she reached down
and shook the dust out of first one
shoe and then the other. They had
walked down from the mill yard,
leaving the others back there talk
ing to the foreman.
"You mean you told them a story
about having to get me back right
away to see the General?" she asked
when Pete got in beside her.
''It was all I could think Of, just
off-hand. I thought some explana-
ton was needed for leaving
this down here on the wrong side Of
the tracks, and barging in and drag
ging you off. / don't think it was
convincing, frankly"
He was thinking Of the single
glance that passed between Taussig
and Diego Gongaro as they came out
of the refinery, and he was still try
ing to fit the whole thing together.
1t didn't make sense, actually. 1t
couldn't possibly be what he'd
thought as he dashed up those steps.
He looked at Anne sitting in a lit
tie heap beside him. She was abso-
lutely all in.
She took off her hat and tried to
smile.
II don't know why was so
scared" she said apologetically. 81
suppose it was the roar and the
heat, and being up so high on that
catwalk not being a cat my
self"
She took a deep breath and got
her lipstick out of her bag.
81 really don't know what I'd have
done if you hadn't come. / think I'd
have fallen. I kept knowing I was
going to. 1t was horrible, really"
Pete reached down and squeezed
her hand tightly for moment, not
saying anything.
'In fact, Pete, I don't know what
I'd ever do without you anyway"
she said. She smiled wanly. sew
cry time I get myself in mess"
Her voice trailed off.
''Why don't you marry me, An
ME" he said when she didn't go on.
"Or have I said that too many
times? Just for a bodyguard. I'd
live out in the dog house, and you
could just send me bone once in a
while"
Anne shook her head.
81 can't, Pete. I don't know why,
exactly. Sometimes I wish could,
but Oh, don't know what's
the matter with me. I'm such a
mess. When I'm with you I don't
want to be with anybody else. When
I'm in jam it's always you ;"
She stopped again.
''Why don't you tell me all about
it, old girl? What's up?"
He wanted to ask her about Taus-
sig, but not just then.
''We were good friends before /
fell in love with you," he went on.
"I'd like to stay that way. Why
don't. you just get it all off your
chest.-Is it Valera? You know I'd
rather you'd be perfectly honest
about it. Even if it hurts a little"
"He's not in love with me, if that's
what you mean," Anne said slowly.
He glanced at her sideways. She
apparently believed it.
81 don't know what happened to
me. It's just so different"
''Maybe that's it, Annie," Pete
said.
II don't mean that. Or maybe
I do and don't know it. Anyway,
I'll get over it, ! guess, when I get
back home."
"You'll let me know, won't you?
Just so you don't do anything crazy,
like marrying the guy. That's all
I'm really afraid Of"
"Why?"
"The old ego in the first place."
He grinned sardonically. 1T
wouldn't work in the second"
''Why not?"
He slowed down and looked at
her. ''No stuff, Anne,' he said.
"You wouldn't marry"
II think I would If he asked
me. Which he hasn't and isn't like
ly to. / don't see why not"
''I do" Pete said curtly. "a he'll
Of a lot of reasons why not. 1t
works all right the other way
around. The gals get break when
they get an American husband. But
not vice versa. The whole setup is
different. Their customs"
"I know" Anne said calmly.
Language, customs, tradition,
tastes. I've heard that before. From
both Miguel and his father. And I
think it's a lot of rot, personally"
'Then you're stupider than you
look, beautiful" Pete said. 81 sup
pose you're going to tell me Love
Conquers All, next. You've been to
foo Ynanv movies sweetie"