The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-13
CHAPTER XII

CHATTER XII
 DRoCK got his artificial leg ir ID the late summer. He still used two canes but pr. Pelham had as' cured Corinne Kittrldge that in time he would learn to do without them.
 als face was thin, fine-drawn There was about him e tension inc same sort of tension sht sensed in Thayer. Only when Moys wns present did that tension lesser in Brock. And for a long time there had been growing in Mrs. KittridgC confirmation of her first conviction that Brooks marriage was Q bitter mistake, bearing now the fruit of it' folly.
 Mrs. Kittridge pictured him aS trapped, That he was not mak- inR Q more speedy recovery was due solely to his dilemma. Which made oung pr. Lacey's opinion most unwelcome when he paid call on a day the older doctor was indisposed.
 "There's more to this business than legs" he had said brusquely when Ms. Kittridge had mentioned Brooks improvement. They're mak- ins wonderful restcrations in this war, but the real steps still have to be taken with the mind, never for- get that"
 "Meaning2"
 "Physical injury can main mind as well as body. More so, because we can see physical injury; the other can SO successfully be hidden. Disas- trously, of course. This deeper side is the Job of you at home; tough Job too"
 My son has every assurance ot love and understanding" said Mrs Kittridge. "He knows his mother has never failed him -- and will not fail him now" ~,
 ''The thing Is not to let him Tail himself" pr. Lacey said sharply asee that he meets all the de- mands life has the right to make upon him"
 'Flrst we must get him we'll Mrs. Kittridge said with dignity.
 "Then you will get him well, said pr. Lacey as he took abrupt leave.
 vTfiE whole thing kept running \ through her nTind today aS she watched Brooks unrest. It was with relief she saw Moya's car drive in and she went at once to greet her visitor.
 "Hello," Moya said, at ease in her knowledge of welcome. Where's Brock?" I'm running out to Corning .--some Auxiliary stuff, l thought he might like the ride
 "JuSt what he needs" Mrs. Kit tldge said. Her eyes and MoyaS met, agreement in them and un. derstanding.
 Tt cetainly appeals to me more than sitting around" Brock said, overhearlng as he came In.
 Once in the open, some of the tension that bound the man es. capped in speech. Lord, but I'm glad you came along. Moya. ] was about to ."
 Her glance slanted toward him As she drove. T didn't drop by on impulse; I planned all day that you'd 60 with me"
 "Ccol about 1t, aren't you7" But somehow their hands found each others and he felt the strong curling of her fingers around hl' own. They had often driven this way in the past, the dear crazy past 90 without complexities.
 They were out of town now and the road ran by a tree: severed hill. Something stabbed through Brock. Not since his re. turn had he come out the Corning road past Dumhead Hill. Under Q distant tree someone was stands ing. He only glimpsed the figure but it was c switch thrown to set things in motion. Instantly upon the screen of his mind flashed pictures. Some emotion An him writhed and twisted, wanting to be free. There was upon him the need Of more than this damned pasSlvity that sucked at him like quicaksand.
 His words were . command stop the car, Moya."
 She obeyed with alAerity, turn' ing to him in quick concern. 'fs anything wrong7"
 Let me drive"
 
 E,OR an instant there was the E stiffness preceding movement then wordlesSly she stepped out