The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-09
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Copyright, Ie<7, by A,esdio Hovss
Distributed by King Fsofvrss syndieefs

| 3A1tS1 q AoAA63 3oAAS sAAAAS
perhaps it was a matter of mo-
ments, neither knew nor cared
Cathy drew away from Bill
and smiled up at him with shin
ing eyes.
"And now-where do we &C
from here?" she asked softly, .
little note of eager happiness
threading her voice because ir
her heart it was not a question
She knew there could only be
one answer. They had so nearly
lost each other and they hao
found each other again; they
mustn't ever run the risk OF
losing each other again.
"We go back to town and you
give Major Graham the bum:
rush, and" he began, but the
look in Cathy's eyes stopped
him.
"And you give Elaine Stoval
the feminine equivalent"
elaine isn't important
Cathy."
"No?"
He flushed and looked angry
"Oh l admit Aunt Edith is
nuts about her and all that-but
for Pete's sake, Cathy, can't
you give me credit for sense
enough to side-step any little
plot they may work out?"
"And can't you give me the
same benefit of the doubt about
Mark Graham?"
81 wasn't lost in the jungle
with Elaine for eight days-re-
member? And she didn't travel
three thousand miles to spend
q brief leave with me. Don't
forget that either!"
mark has no family" said
Cathy unsteadily. "He was lone
ly."
Bill made a rude noise.
"No man as good-looking as
he is, or as rich" he began
Cathy looked surprised.
"Is Mark rich? I didn't
Bill looked at her curiously.
"Darned if I don't be-
lieve that" he admitted. You're
- we'll you're unique, Cathy.
Most girls would know about a
thing like that two minutes after
she met the guy. He happens to
be very rich man."
Cathy nodded thoughtfully.
"That explains all of the di-
vorces in his family, l suppose, y"
she thought aloud.
Bill looked at her, frowning.
"Hi, remember me?" he ask
ed sharply. "I'm the guy you're
in love with-not Mark Graham.
Hang it, I'm the man you mar
ried."
"Secretly,' said Cathy with
faint emphasis. II remember. y
THAT worries you lot,
doesn't it, Cathy?" said Bill, un-
expectedly gentle.
"Quite lot," she admitted.
His arms went about her,
drawing her close his cheek
against her bright hair. She re-
laxed against him in the blessed
magic of that. Here in his arms
in their favorite spot, with the
sunlight spilling through the
thick-leaved branches of the old
oak, her heart beating hard
against Bills, she shut out
everything from her thoughts
except this moment, to hold it as
memory for always.
"Cathy darling" said Bill.
after a moment, his voice very
low and warm with tenderness.
"Cathy will you trust me just
a little longer? I know 1 can fix
things up, if only you won't rur
out on me-"
81 have a little over two
weeks left of my leave, Bill
before I get my ORDERS" she
told him quietly.
"Then will you trust me
Cathy, and give me that two
weeks to get everything
Strengthened out? I can do il
Cathy-I know I can! / want tt
look after you, give you all the
lovely things you've never had.'
"The only thing I've ever
wanted, Bill, is your love-"
"That you've got-now and
for always, Cathy. Believe me
darling, please believe mel" hs
pleaded.
And as she had been power.
less against him when he had
begged for secret marriage
she was powerless now to dc
anything but agree. To lift he1
face for his kiss, to know the
warmth of his arms about her
to rest for a few precious mo-
ments in the ecstasy Of thei1
love-.
He let her out at the gate in
front of the house and S aid soft
|ly, Good night darling. See