The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-03

or something"
Mallory's eyes had rested on the
customs agent, instead of the
youngster. Does Pope get COM
mission down there, too?"
"Ah, Miss Baker," the grown
man had pleaded, forgive this lit
tie fellows greed. He has to make
his living in 'teeps' here on the
bridge-and I swear he adores you
don't you. Pope" he had COM
manded sternly.
"Of course 1 do the boy had
replied casually. why not? She
gave me almost as much money
as I'd hoped she would. She 'teeps'
American"
But Mallory Baker wasn't stop
ping for ''coky'' or wood carv-
ings. Not even for human compan-
ionship. She couldn't explain why
she didn't want to stop at the gay
appearing place. Some fear SINH
lar to doing without her headlights
as long as she could, a sort of
protective desire to hide in the
darkness, also to get farther away
from that fearful spot. Gee, I
wish Prism were along" the blond
girl whispered to herself. 81 even
wish Tod Patrick were l on g."
Whatever she might have against
Tod, he wasn't afraid; he was
brave to the point of sassiness.
Still, would he be brave in this
circumstance? Or, would his knees
tremble as hers were' ''I'll never
tell him about it," she vowed "rn
never tell anyone" In spite of that
oath, she began to recite her men,
cries of the incident. as if she were
telling someone. She didn't know
why she had to do it, perhaps to
clarity things in her own mind, per-
haps as relief to a loneliness that
ghtened-at any rate, she had to
talk it out" as she often did
scene.
'I was driving along at ABOUT so
miles an hour, less probably, be-
cause / had to be careful of ami
mails on the road. 1t was wonder
full, like being in a world all my
own. was beginning to feel exact
ly as I'd planned to feel when l
once was out of the States, indo-
lent, contented, yet thrilled with
new sights There now were no
countryside lights visible; NAL
lory's car had tipped through the
little town of Sabinas Hidalgo and
left it behind. She dared not think
of what she'd do if her car stop
ped; her only assurance Of safety
was to keep moving, swiftly.
She recited on, There weren't
many cars on the highway. The
tourists aren't doing much now
adays. l remember seeing only two
cars and few trucks. But there
were many poems and burros and
literally hundreds and hundreds of
goats. It all was primitive and in.
teresting, except when the goats
stopped to kiss the radiator as they
crossed the road and slowed me to
zero miles an hour.
All the same, 1 was happy and
blissful." The high powered car
now was beginning fairly steep
climb. Mallory could not see any,
thing of the roadside except an &C.
casional traveller who had not
made it home. sleeping in the ditch
beside his burro. She shivered at
the memory of how happy she had
felt. 1t seemed so silly now.
When the sun started down."
Mallory recalled aloud, and all
those poems and burros and goats
began disappearing from the road,
I had idyllic pictures of them, coz
lily settled for the night in their
little homes. l was loving the dark
lavender and crimson streaked
sunset, the sight of stiff desert
growth etched against that color. I
was humming. 1 was eager for the
first star SO l could make a wish.
The moment was one of absolute