davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-08
BY KATHERINE GREER
Invdrsssd BY Hs.y BsekksH

gate kid swore stenogTaphy was her life
ambition. 50 took chance It's hopeless
though; she doesn't write my letters. she
makes up her ownt'
Smart" Bill said The trouble with you
is, you haven't been high-powered executive
long enough to know that's what is called
secretary
Secretary - bell! My letters may not be
literary germs but they make senser Dave was
the same old oocky hothead he used to be.
How about her typing?
mot too good Besides. this place is seeth-
ing with typists."
Shed be honey of a receptionist."
Good two-fsted policemen are the only
receptionists we need around here these days.
I've got to fire her - that's all. I'm going to
do it this afternoon - and don't say it's one
of my quick-tempered impulses. I've been
thinking it over all week"
Seems darned shame" Bill said.
ssOH, SHE'LL get better job somewhere else.
There are plenty of downtown Offices pro-
fessiooal men and what not - that are clam
oring for girls of her type and talents What
we need around here are old war horses like
Briggsie I'll bet she hasn't made typo
graphical error in twenty years! And that
reminds me. that ="
Yeah know" Bill stood up then,
you're plenty busy yourself right now. I'm
going before you turn your temper loose on
me, you old redheadr
Its been swell seeing you, kid" Dave
gave him hearty clap ON the back. Drop in
any time you like. Anything we can do ="
Except take my advicei" Bill chuckled on
his way out. -.
paoyees. He was nearly to his car when he
decided that it would be nice friendly ges-
ture if he did look up Miss Briggs. Under her
austere exterior he had a feeling she con-
cealed sentimental interest IN her former
fellow-workers now in the service.
He was informed by a file clerk in her Office
that she was lunching in the cafeteria He
found her there - with-of all PEOPLE -
Abby Applegate!
why - this is wonderful! You haven't
changed a bit, William - except to grow
brovner and Landowner said Briggsie. He
had been right about her softness once you
cracked the outer shell; her pale eyes were
glistening "And all those ribbons! want to
hear about every one OF Them
You're looking swell. yourself, Briggsie.
He flushed beneath his bronze. This was no
time to talk about his ribbons - homecoming
heroes came dime a dozen for girls like
Abby.
81 wouldn't feel natural at Built Right
unless saw your he added.
This really is celebration nowr' Miss
Briggs fiat voice actually sang. Il was just
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-08

.Oh, anywhere. Ill get a table ready and
ask some of the girls she likes" she continued
to plan. TOO bad her boss. MIR, Ellery. is in
Washington. Ill ask Mr.. Brent ="
"You - you're not going to ask Brent?"
"Of course! Why not?"
mo reason, except -" He broke off lame
". He couldn't say: Except that he's going
to fire you this afternoon!" He thought: Ill
have to tip him Off He can't do that to her,
when she's doing this for old Briggsie!
''Briggsie likes Mr.. Brentse So do !. He's
blustery and quick-tempered; but when you
really understand him, he's nice. The best
way to get along with - er - impulsive
people like Mr.. Brent, is to be tiny bit deaf
sometimes"
You'll have to be deafer than post,
thought Bill miserably. ;.
The birthday party was grand success.
Prudence Briggs insisted tearfully that it was
the happiest day of her life. The girls who'd
been there longer than Abby seemed bit
charmed that Briggsie had never told
them about her birthdays, and agreed to
remember them. Old Dave came through
genially with greetings" on behalf Of the
executives; and Bill discovered latent
talent, as co-master -of-cere1nonies.
He COMPLETED his share in the celebration
by driving Miss Briggs home. and. inciden-
tally. Abby Apologize.
After they had deposited Briggsie at her
door, he felt ilnpelled to resume his philan-
thropic activities on behalf Of Abby.
"You see what working in an Office for
thirty years does to you. He took circuitous
route. "You wouldn't want to look and act like
poor old Briggsie you'd better get out while
you can should think you d find some other
type of work much more interesting. Ever
thought of being receptionist? A reserva-
tionist in an airlines office, say, in tricky
uniform? Or modelling - you'd be honey
of model"
Job which depended on my brain. It's been
the dream of my life! Of course, know I'm
not perfect, yet -
Practically perfect, he thought, noting the
irresistible way her mouth quirked at the
corners when she talked, the fascinating way
her eyelashes brushed her cheeks.
But intend to be - in time"
That's the trouble; it takes time" II he'd
really been as brave as the ribbons on his
chest indicated, he'd have added that she'd
have only tomorrow - with Brent!
Il know. l study my shorthand every
night. III begin tonight right after dinner.
I'll get in a good three hours
HE THOUGHT: That settles it, anyway.
IN and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-08

have only tomorrow - with Brent!
Il know l study my shorthand every
night. III begin tonight right after dinner.
I'll get in good three hours
HE THOUGHT That settles it, anyway. |
can't ask her to dinner and movie now -
not that she will learn enough in three hours
to save herself tomorrow
He protested mildly: You shouldn't work
SO hard. You should have little fun 80.
Naturally, he hadn't had the remotest In
tention of returning to Built Right the next
day The only possible excuse was that he
hadn't seen Hackensack. A pretty fiimsy one.
at that, considering the arguments he and
Hack invariably had.
Hack was still at home with the flu. which
was relief; but Bill remembered that he'd
left his pipe in Brent's office. The idea was
sound; the pipe was still there. The fault was
in the timing - Abby wasn't.
Obviously. she'd just gone - and left her
letters.
Dave held one out to Bill. Look at that!
l knew | should have told her yesterday -
Tw-is-s-H
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Ex-WesfmorIand
Mayor Faces
Hay Theft Count

Solution Of six hay theft cases vas
said to have been reached Tuesday
with the arrest and asserted confes-
sion OF Fred Benson. 81. former
mayor Ct Westmofland. and John
Brazil. 25. truck driver. Sheriff
Robert w. Ware and his deputy.
Frank Raney. said Tuesday.
Charges of grand theft were filed
against the pair and they were re-
leased on bail.
Arrest of Benson and Brazil vas
made by Raney during his investi-
CATION of theft of a load Of hay
from the O. Roy Thompson ranch
east of Calipatria.
Raney asserted the two men ad-
mitted the theft of five loads OF hay.
The hay, they told him In their al
legged confession. came from the ID.
Souza ranch south of Westmorland.
the Felix Lehman place north OF
Holtville. the Ellsworth ranch south
of Calipatria, the Montgomery
ranch southwest of Calipatria. the
G Roy Thompson place east OF
Calipatria, and a load from a ranch
at ThompSon's Crossing south OF
Westmorland.
Benson resigned as mayor of
Westmorland at the last meeting Of
the city council because he had
moved outside the city limits. The
council was to meet Tuesday night
to select his successor.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Macarthur Eyes
Isles Capital
,Continped from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
road from the Ormoc corricor. Lit
tle resistance vas being encounter
eo.
The seventh division landed at
Puerto Bello. five and a half miles
uest OF Ormoe. also against little
resistance. while the 32nd and first
cavalry divisions. smashing the last
enemy resistance in the Ormoc cor
rI6cr. drove rapidly toward the
vest.
FARTHER north. the oath division
marched clear across the northwest
I'D of the island and cleaned up the
vest coast In the San Isidor area,
"a miles north of Palompon.
Macarthur placed Japanese loss
6 in the Leyte-Samar campaign
since the American landing October
% at 54338 japanese dead already
recovered. an estimated 1880 dead
either buried BY the enemy or still
70 be recovered. 493 prisoners. 30,-
coo troops sunk at sea in 10 con-
yoys attempting TO reinforce the
garrison. and 1890 naval ratings in
The crews of al transports of 164,250
tons and q warships sunk.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
German Thrust
Nedrs Meuse
Continued from Page l

J.
while pausng for the next phase of the offensive
Some budup of the enemy forces already was IN prog
ress of Rochefort and south of Marche where until
now the Nazis have had things mostly their own way
Germans Recdpture Strategic City
The Germans also attacking on 2OO0yard front
along the northwest side of the salient and recaptured
Manhay mile east of Grandmen 15 miles northeast OF
Marche
Between Monschau and Mamedy on the north side OF
the bulge activity died down somewhat although ootn
sides kept the pressure on.
At Bastogne, in the center, the surrounded American
fought denying the Nazis the use OF that vital
road center. .
Fighting continued around Arsdor and Eschdorf five
to seven miles northeast of the bor-
der town of Martelange.
While the Allied air forces hammered the enemy in
the salient the uftwaffe out in force to guard the
vital ground targets Many fierce dogghts precpl
tated.
The Ninth Air Force reported the destruction of II
armOred vehicles and the damaging of 81 In addition 23|
vehicles destroyed and 81 damaged by early
account
An,erican Pocket Suddenly COiiapses
The sudden collapse of the American pocket below the
MamedyStaveot line after two days of relative stability
sent Naz tanks and armored troop carriers spng west
ward along the northern wall of the corridor to join their
central spaarheads driving for the Meuse
Exploiting the break-thrOugh the Nazs sent three arm
ored spearhead through the dded center and right
ter of the American First army line 13-mile front
pointed suare at the Meuse river ctades of Dant and
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26

Rochefort. Il miles east of the
Meuse. and Is miles eaSt-SoutheaSt
of Dinant. was captured by the
Germans SO hours ago and it was
indicated their vanguards still were
rolling forward.
German paratroops struck Il
miles ahead OF their advancing
tank forces, descending behind the
American lines north of Beauraing
five miles from the Meuse city OF
Givet ana only a half-dozen miles
from French soil.
Headquarters communique said
the NaH paratroOpS were mopped
up quickly IN the Beauraing area,
along with another airborne force
that tried to disrupt American COM
munications southwest Of Stavelot,
some IS miles to the rear.
simultaneously. other Nazi tank
and shock troop formations LASH
eG out for the MeuSe in the Marche
sector, eight miles northeast Of
Rochefort, and around Hotton, 4l2
miles farther to the north.
The new German break-throUgh
was aided enormously by sudden
weakening of American resistance
along the northern shoulder of the
salient. Lieutenant General Court
ney H. Hoo ges' First army dough-
boys were squeezed out of bulge
extending down about seven miles
from the Malmedy-Stavelot line.
permitting the northern and central
prongs CT the Nazi drive to link up
in a solid 35-mile front.
With the center of the American
line still in a highly fluid state,
the great winter offensive launch
ed by Marshal Karl Won Runcstedt
II days ago already had carved out
a salient 81 miles deep nd 35 miles
wide, extending almost from the
German TO the French borcers and
from southern Belgium to central
Luxembourg. At last reports, ad-
niittedly SO hours old, the NaziS still
were rolling westward in a power
drive Of grave proportions.
Headquarters SpokeSmen acknowl-
edged that Rundstec2t, far from be-
ing stopped by the threat TO his
f.anks and the slaughter of his men
and armor by Allied planes, actual
ly was striking with renewed power
and posing a grave threat TO the
vital MeuSe river line.
The fate of the MeuSe anc per-
haps the entire communications
network Of the Allied armies on
the western front apparently rest
ed now on the ability Of the Amer
lean and British air forces to pile
up the Nazi Fanzer columns and
stall them long enough for General
Dwight D. EisenhcWer's counter
offensive to gain momentum.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
ForresfaI Hints
At Navy Losses
Continued from Page -


The public should not be LED, by
false rumors Of supposedly unan-
nounced facts, TO deprecate the
achievement of the officers and men
of the Third and Seventh fleets in
that action" he added. The Japa-
nese fleet was indeed beaten, rout-
ed and broken"
He said the navys silence on
damage inflicted during the second
phase of the Philippine naval cam
paign-the phase following the big
sea battle-"has left the field clear
for the japanese to make fantastic
claims, perhaps fishing for informa-
ton"
PROGRAM GOES FORWARD
Perhaps the best way to assess
the results of Japanese air attacks
against our fleets since the second
battle of the Philippine sea is to ask
whether those attacks have disrupt
ed our plans for future action" he
said. They have not. The fall OF
Leyte and our landing on Mindoro
are a concrete demonstration that
they have not.
Another such demonstration Is
cur carrier raids on Luzon. Our
amphibious attack on Ormoc Is an
other. Our troops freedom from sur
face ship bombardment on Leyte
and Mindoro is still another.
IN spite of all the Japanese have
t.a,, ohio m dO both with their navy
and with their land-based aircraft,
we and not they are winning the
campaign for the Philippines. we
now dominate the waters around
those islands and the air over them
In the ordered course OF events,
General Douglas Macarthur, beating
down a tough Japanese army. Will
liberate the Philippine islands
themselves.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Traffic Mishaps
Kill Livestock

Human beings escaped serious in
iuries in traffic accidents in Impe-
rial county during the Christmas
week end but livestock took a beat
ing.
A check of records at the Cali
fornia Highway patrol office in Ell
Centro showed that two mules were
struck and killed by cars and one
heifer was injured SO critically that
she probably is steak and stew oy
this time.
HAS BROKEN NOSE
At ll:15 pm. Sunday a coupe
driven by Frank Gonzalez, Jr,
crashed into a mule a short dis
lance west of Westmorland on
Highway SO. Frank Gonzalez, Sr., So,
father of the driver suffered a
broken nose and cuts.
Mrs. Rena May O'Neil of 93l
Nineteenth street, San Diego, suf-
tered cut on the wrist at 2:l5 a IN.
Tuesday when a car she was dr1v-
ing collided with a mule on high
way 30 approximately two miles
west Of Seeley. The mule was killed.
A heller was struck and possibly
fatally injured at 4 am. Tuesday
by a car driven by Jose Barcelona,
~, on highway No. Ill east of El
Centro. Barcelona, who lives near
the scene of the accident, escaped
injury.
TWO MARINES HURT
Two marines were injured when
a car driven by an as yet unidenti-
fled driver crashed into the rear
Of a car driven by Neil Werning,
FL Centro, on highway 30 a mile
west of El Centre at II pm. Mon
cay, highway patrolman said. Cor
poral E. A. Parent suffered cuts
and bruises and several Of Private
Harold Stump's teeth were loosen
ed.
Coya Meza, "a, Mexicah, suffer-
&C minor injuries at l0:30 pm. Sum-
day when two cars collided on
highway SO approximately 300 feet
north Of the Calexico city limits.
One car was driven by Jennie c.
Romero. 81. FL Centro, and the
ether by Luis Verdugo Rodriguez,
34.x Calexico. highway patrolmen
said
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
RAMBLING REPORTER
Continued from Page u


and always has been FL Centro's
job. The generosity of FL Centrans
in taking homemade food to the
snack bar is known all over the
world. This Christmas the residents
OF the Fl Centro area really lived
up to their reputation as generous,
hoSpitable, unselfish hosts and host
eSSeS to the many Servicemen and
women stationed in this county.
Turkey, candy, salads, cookies,
boxes and boxes of fruits. Oh, every
thing good to eat went to the cam
teen for the holiday week end Nice
little nosegays of desert lilies to all
of you.
And more desert nosegays to those
who gave the gifts SO Santa Claus
could distribute them to USO club
visitors.
Still more desert bouquets to those
who gave UP their own plans and
celebrations to help with the 1estiv-
tiles and duties at the club.
Ell Centro is a pretty good place
Therefore, desert lilies to Ell Gen.
trO.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
FIND OWN FINGERPRINT\

KANSAS CITY, Dec. 26. up
After the robbery Of a small res
taurant here, police exulted to find
a series Of distinct fingerprints
along the counter beside the cash
register. They were indetified easily,
but the eXultation ceased. The prints
included only those Of the proprietor
and several members of the police
force who ate at the establishment,
across the street from their pre-
cinct station
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Hitler Devised
Belgian Drive
In Yelled Move
BY JAMES McGLINCY

PARIS, Dec. &c. CUP)-Supreme
headquarters reported Tuesday that
Adolf Hitler personally conceived
and planned the present all-out
German offensive during the rumor-
clouded months when the world was
swamped with reports that he was
dead, gravely i'll or insane.
After Hitler had set up the grand
attack now beating at the ap-
breaches of the Meuse line and the
French border region. he turned over
its execution to Marshal Karl Won
Rundstedt and the marshall's chief
of staff, Won Westfall, a Shaef
spokesman said.
The overall Nazi strategy was re-
ported whipped into shape under
cover of the smoke screen Cf Hit
Ter rumors" craftily thrown up by
Nazi propagandists, the first author
itative appraisal of the planning
behind the offensive indicated.
It was an audaciouSly brilliant as
we'll as fundamentally simple oper-
alton which Hitler was described as
mapping with the aim of destroying
the Allies in the west.
Already committed tC it were one
infantry army, one panzer army,
and possibly a second panzer army,
Shaef reported. The immediate OBJ
jective OF the original plan was the
line of the Meuse river as defined by
the great fortress cities of Liege,
Namur and Dinant.
The original pan was reported
frustrated in its initial phase by
the failure Of the American First
army to collapse, but more German
gains are to be expected before the
full picture of one of the most con-
fused military situations of the en-
tire war emergeS.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Macarthur Dons
IsIand.made
5.Sfar Insignia

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Phil
ippines. Dec. 26. CUP)-General
Douglas Macarthur today was wear
ing his new five-star insignia beat
Ell out of a miscellaneous collec-
ton of Filipino. Dutch, and Aus
tralian silver coins furnished by his
aides.
The word that Macarthur had
been promoted to the rank of gen.
eral of the army posed knotty
problem. No such insignia as the
five stars in circle were available
here.
A Filipino silversmith from Leyte
township was called in for a hurry
up job, and instructed how to make
the new badge. The coins showerec
down, and in record time he came
up with two handmade insignia des-
ignating MacArthur's rank.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
CLOCK KEEPS HENS ON JOB

WCODINVILLE, Wash, Dec. 26
UP)-An electric time clock which
controls the lights in a dozen chick
en- houses keeps $4,000 hens on DR..
Walter A. Moore's farm at peak
Warume production. The clock clicks
en- lights and rouses the hens at
/ am, giving the birds a l3-hour
shift. They then have plenty Of
time to scratch around and work at
high production rates, Moore ex-
plains.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
FOST-HOLIDAY MAILING
SWAMPS POST OFFICE

There was little, if any, slacken-
ing of the holiday pressure on Ell
Centros post office Tuesday morn
ing. A double line of people before
the parcel post window was still
mailing Christmas presents. Another
double line was at the registry VIM
dow claiming registered mail Every
available desk space was being used
by people making out applications
for money orders. AS fast as people
left the building, others arrived to
take their place. 1t was one of the
busiest days in the Ell Centro post
Offices history.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
MARINES CHOSE MARINES

CHICAGO, Dec. 26. tUP)-When
the paymaster of a marine corps
aviation unit in the Marianas calls
out Marines" only one man steps
forward He is Cpl. George p. Mar
ines of Chicago who said that he
Joined the corps because it would
complicate matters to have Mar
ines in the army.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Beauty Pays

Beauty Pays
If you don't want to get your
nose punched don't say anything
to John H. Degnan, third class navy
radioman at the FL Centro marine
air S alton, about his long curly
eyelashes.
Because of those long curly eye
lasheS, John won a contest at the
USO Christmas and was given a
free phone call to his mother in
Lockport, New York.
I'll never live this down" John
muttered, fluttering his eyelashes,
but it will be worth it to talk to
my mother"
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
Foods of Nation
Reach Lowest
Ebb in Wartime
Continued from Page one1

beef and veal liver. some sausages
and meats in tin or glass containers
Point values VII range from one to
13.
All red and blue ration stamps
validated before December l are
no longer valid. All sugar stamps
except No. "a are no longer valid.
A new sugar stamp will be issued
February /. but it will be good for
five pounds over a three months
period instead Of the present two
and a half months
Butter is up from % TO - points.
Bowles said the decision had been
difficult TO make" but necessary
because civilian supplies of sugar
butter and commercially canned
fruits and vegetables are at the
lowest point since the war began
and meat supplies are declining
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
SUCH Is FAME

BOSTON. Dec 26. CJP)-What
became Of the other 1899 ,998 lis
teners? That Is what Comedian
Fred Allen wants to know. Said the
Bcston-born radio. stage and screen
star: Il was supposed to have 90
o0O, 900 radio listeners. But when I
went OFF the air I received only
two pieces Of mail-a letter from
lady in Lancaster. Pa, ano the
other a postcard from an anony-
nous gent in Syracuse"
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
9 DAUGHTERS IN ROW

HAAlPDEN. Mass. Dec. 26. up
Mrs. Albert Labelle gave birth to
her ninth daughter the other cay.
She has no sons.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26

By cutting his cigarets in half
and using a holder to smoke
them, 1t. Lloyd Kisner, above,
combat flyer now at Don Ce-
Star Convalescent Center, st.
Petersburg, Fla, makes a hard
to-get pack last twice as long.
He picked up the idea overseas.
Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-26
new kind of
ASPIRIN tablet
doesn't upset stomach

When you need
quickrelief from
pain, do you
hesitate to take
aspirin because
it leaves you
with an upset
stomach? If so,
this new medi-
cal discovery,
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-10-06
STAMPS
Willie +. Jones

Mrs, Jack Green of San Diego
and her sister, Mrs. Pinkie Stew
art Of Los Angeles, are visiting
relatives and friends here. Pvt.
John Henry Bon. Jr., visited his
parents here, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Henry Bon ST.. Mrs. Willie Mae
Ingram has returned after sey-
eral weeks with her brother who
is i'll in Texas. Mrs. sallie
Mills is directing repairs on her
residence. John Terrence was
given a surprise birthday, Sunday
with Mrs. Terrence serving as
hostess and a group of friends
enjoying the affair Mrs. Tres
sic Ellison entertained at birth
day party for her grandson, W. J.
Anderson, with many friends aid
ing in the celebration, Sunday.