davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23
A Short Story

1T WAS night of intermittent, eccentric
i rain, bursting into angry little squalls,
dwindling to mistlike drizzle, seeming to die
only to start again. The agent of the Army
Departments Criminal Investigation Divi-
sion wondered whether she would come out
in the rain; he took table near the window
of the coffee-shop where he could watch the
door.
As soon as she entered the restaurant,
though he could not see her face, Stanton
knew she was the girl. A gray porkpie of the
same wool as her coat shaded her eyes, She
was not as tall as the first impression she
created yesterday, but that was because she
held herself proudly as if she priced what she
had. She waited for the hostess to lead her
to table. Her eyes were fixed without focus
ahead of her and she pulled at the fingers of
the white string gloves that sheathed her
hands.
Stanton left couple of bills on his check
beside small blue teapot, pushed his chair
back and walked toward her table He was
well-bmit man in his middle thirties, dressed
in loose-ftting doublebreasted suit of soft
blue flannel. He had grazing black hair
which he brushed back smoothly from part
on the right side of his head. Over his arm
he carried service trench coat. He did not
attempt smile as ne approached her.
did you drop this, Miss Linton?" he
asked. He placed his credentials, enclosed in
a small leather folder, on an empty service
plate before her. Her eyes, when they looked
up at him, gave no sign of what she was think
ing.
Major Stanton" she said, letting a smile
cross her face and holding the leather folder
up to him. You're an unexpected type any
way. Do sit down."
HE TOOK the chair across from her She
appeared even younger than her age, but her
face, her eyes, her speech betrayed someone
who had chosen to draw strength only from
herself and this gave her quality he did not
often observe in the young. Her glamour
girl pictures he'd studied in Washington
hadn't done her justice; but, most of all, they
hadn't even begun to show her strength of
character and the frmness of her manner.
Il don't mind waiting" Stanton told her.
please have your dinner
you mean to say smart Army CID. man
of your discernnent doesn't know always
take dinner in my apartment? This is just
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23

teams with man, they begin playing both
ends against the law and she winds up broken
on the pavements from twelve flights up or
washed-out type in cotton drab in the peni-
Tertiary"
Her face went grave. She looked at him for
long time. Sorry" she said. smiling IN
see if the ooffee's ready"
Il forgot to tell you" he remarked. Il hate
Coffee
How do you feel about zigeunermnsik?''
Got any Mildred Bailey?"
She walked to the music box and put an
end to the music. Then she went to the
kitchen and snapped an electric switch
"Bailey's the best there is, Mister Army
Department. You've got an ear for music
And people"
She looked away from him quickly, 50 that
all he saw of her was the long clean line of her
hair across the shoulders. Her voice, when
she spoke. was firm. but she did not look at
him. 'You want to know what about John
English, don't you? We're supposed to be
engaged. Well, go ahead, ask me. haven't
seen him in over a year. haven't got
letter in almost as long - not a message -
nothing. The last heard he still belonged to
you people in the Pentagon Building and was
in Germany"
I'VE KNOW all that" Stanton said We've
been reading every piece of mail he's got or
has sent out. We know he hasn't even asked
about you in over a year. And we know you
haven't written him.
She turned to him slowly, her lips tensing
little, her eyes filmed with tears. Then
what do you want me for?"
He needs your help" he said through I'M
moving lips. He let that sink in, then became
matter-of-fact. 1T was too pat. A girl like
you is engaged to an officer with brilliant
record. She's true-blue all the time he's in
training. loyal - you see, when l got this
bunch started out by finding out everything
about you - loyal while he's in North Africa
and Sicily. Patton asks to have him along
when he changes commands.
That's fair kind of guy, Miss Linton.
He gets the Silver Star, DISC, the stuff you
get in the line, and as if that isn't enough.
a couple of Purple Hearts He's with ar
mored spearheads all the way through Ger
many He checks in sick after the peace, the
first time in his record when he goes to hos
pital without being forcibly sick-tagged by
medical officer
The doctors find nothing wrong. The old
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23

chance to see some faces before turn IN.
The smile on his face was almost an apol-
ogy. Il can't say l know all your habits.
I've only been tagging you for two days."
Hasn't it been dull? No coded messages,
no corpses, not even phone call?"
A grin creased Stanton's face. They don't
usually come like you either, Miss Linton.
Generally they're wrapped to the earlobes
in mink, trimmed in gold accessories and
glistening with diamonds
She looked swiftly around the crowded res
taurant Look" she said, why don't we
60 to my place? Ill let you search the whole
fiat while the coffee is perking."
STANTON rose with her but was late for her
chair. IN take you up on that. But don't
ask me to make search In the Criminal
Investigation Division I'm known as the
heavy-hngered guy who destroys evidence by
the caseful every time he opens door," >. .
Her apartment was in one of the apart
ment-hotels near Westlake Park.
The elevator boy knew that she belonged
on the twelfth floor She threw open the door
to her apartment, took off her coat and bag,
tossing them easily to a chair, and went to the
far end of the living room where there was a
lamp, then turned and sailed the porkpie
expertly to the chair on which she had left
the coat and bag
Practice" she explained with mock pride
She held her hand out toward a bookcase
Pick up volume of The Messages and
Speeches of the Presidents and amuse your
self till get the coffee on"
She returned to the room, walked to a
music box in corner, inspected batch of
records, returned them to the spindle, and
started the tuIntable. The lessor likes gypsy
music" she told Stanton. This is Hungar-
ian. We've also got Romanian - any favor
you like"
Il can't tell one from the other But l
would like to know, Miss Linton, how you
can leave home without word to family or
anyone, leave pretty big job writing high
style copy for Modes and ="
The interrogation begins?" she asked her
eyes narrowing, amused.
He sprang suddenly from his seat, modify
walked to the window Far below the rain
swept city was pin-pointed in million lights
I'D hoped you were going to be serious"
he said bitterly
you don't think this becomes me?"
Stanton returned to his seat. No" he
said crisply. I've seen too much of it. A girl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23

wounds doing okay. But he's tired, shaking.
You might say he was cracking up. But you
don't Section-E Eight man like Captain
Johnny English. He gets a courier Job to
Naples, chance to rest-camp in Capri, any
duty he wants. No matter what you think
about us, we're proud of men like Captain
English and we'd do anything we could for
him. When everyone else begs to 90 home,
he then asks to be assigned back to Ger
many"
He wrote me there was job still to do"
But when he came back on leave there
was no marriage. No talk about bringing you
over with him."
SoaErHRsc tortured him. He told me,
I'm in trouble, darling. I'm in more trouble
than ever thought there was in the whole
world. No matter what. keep on believing
and waiting knew then I'd never leave
him. II you're in love with man you're with
him to the very end of the road
Then he was changed when he returned
from Germany after the WARP
hardly knew him. I'd been his erl all
through basic training, through OCS, through
his first and last experiences with combat
but each time I'd seen him he was always the
same wonderful. hearty hell-guy who was
afraid Of nobody. don't know if he had any
fear in him at all
Stanton's gaze was level on Elinor Linton.
He had fear. but he was stoppering it. May
be that's what exploded in Germany after
the war - in black market operation that
would stagger you if told you the full de-
tails"
She brought her hand to her throat as if
to ease the tight feeling that made it hard to
breathe. She went to the window and looked
out for long time. You've known all
along?"
He had head start and got involved with
quite an organization, but we've known. We
couldn't always tell you the score, but we
knew he was in the ball game"
I'D never seen the way he was when he
returned Combat hadn't touched him like
that. He wouldn't talk about himself He
chain-smoked endless cigarettes. He spoke
Continued on page %
Evening star., 1948-08-29

Mrs Vero Abbott. 1880 Fuller street NW for some
yeors eohercroft lobbyist recently began making mems
Workshop. Mrs Abbott cuts ties from skin The cord
boord templates must be poced carefully to get the best
Designs and sufficient contrasting color must be left for
knots ruler ond shop Ieotter knife used in
the cuttinQ.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Parking Meter Fight
Court Arguments Due

The question of whether Hyatts-
vile city officials will be permitted
to install parking meters along busi-
ness streets Of the community may
be decided today in the Prince
Georges County Circuit Court.
Arguments were slated to be heard
there on q demurrer and motion
filed Monday by Hyattsville City At
torney Nicholas Orem, jr., seeking
to dismiss temporary injunction,
obtained September is by group Of
Hyattsyille merchants.
Installation of 200 parking meters
has been stymied since that injunc-
ton and another temporary one OBJ
tanned a day earlier by owners of
the Queens Chapel shopping center,
West Hyattsville, were signed by
Circuit Court Judge Charles c. Mar
bury.
No answer has been filed with the
court against the second injunction,
although such a reply was author
lied Monday night by the COM
munity's Mayor and City Council.
The injunction up for considera-
ton today was obtained by a group
Of seven Hyattsville business and
professional men. The group,
through their attorneys, Hervey G.
Machen and T. Edwin Hutchinson,
contend that charging a fee for
use of a public highway would vio-
late State motor vehicle laws.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Jewish Chaplain Here
Promoted by Army

Rabbi Henry Tavel, Jewish chap
lain of the military district Of
Washington, was honored yesterday
at a luncheon by the Jewish We'll
fare Board on his recent promotion
to lieutenant colonel in the Regular
Army.
Assigned to the ofiice OF the Army
Chief of Chaplains, Col. Tavel Is
the first Jewish rabbi to hold this
rank in the Regular Army. Samuel
D. Gershovitz, executive director OF
the National Jewish Welfare Board,
New York, extended greetings for
the national president.
The luncheon was held at Jewish
Welfare Board headquarters, 1887
Massachusetts, avenue NV, and
was attended by more than so rep
Of Jewish organizations.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
$4,000 Fire Sweeps
Farm al White Oak

Fire last night destroyed two
barns containing hay, grain, farm
machinery, a quantity of tires and
truck on the farm of DR.. c. j.
Laughlin at White Oak, Md. DR..
Laughlin estimated the loss at be-
tween 5000 and $4,000.
Two hogs in one of the barns,
which we're about 10 feet apart, also
were burned to death. DR.. Laugh
lin said about 35 cattle and two
horses were saved He did not know
how the fire started.
A visitor, identified by DR.. Laugh
lin Asa Mr.. Baldwin of Alexandra
suffered a slight heart attack while
helping bring the cattle and horses
to safety. He was treated at the
scene by volunteer firemen and then
drove home.
DR.. Laughlin, q veterinarian, said
his brother, John M. Laughlin, was
showing some cattle to a group OF
prospective buyers in the basement
Of one of the barns when j. j. Clat-
terbuck, a farm employe, discovered
the fire.
Responding to the blaze were the
Silver Spring, Hillandale and Glen
Echo Volunteer Fire Department.
and equipment from the nearby
Naval Ordnance Laboratory.
DR.. Laughlin said the barns were
partially covered by insurance.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Elected School Board Proposal
Backed by County PTA Council

proved by the voters, a special eiec-
ton would be held the following
month to elect the first board MEM
ber, with two additional members to
be elected every two years.
Mr.. Gilbert said the measure Is
intended to take the board out Of
politics"
I'VE have no quarrel with the
present board" he emphasized, but
we feel it should be directly respon-
sible to the people of the county"
The Council also adopted resolu-
tions calling for the sponsoring
by member associations of COM
munity discussion groups to con-
slider educational problems, pres
entation of radio forums and estab-
lishment of a panel of professional
consultants. Recon-
made by those partic-
ipating in the discussion groups and
radio forums would be submitted TO
county authorities. 4
Evening star., 1948-09-29
County 10 Open tooth
School al Fort WASHINGTON

Prince Georges County's Tooth
school-a two-room temporary struc-
ture at Fort Washington-will be
opened for classes Friday.
The new school. an administra-
tion building at Fort Washington
when it was an Army post during
World War II, will be attended by
about so children. About half OF
these live in homes located within
the fort and leased through Gov
ernment Services, Inc. The rest
live in the surrounding area.
William s. Schmidt, assistant SUI
perintendent Of schools in the
county, announced yesterday the
structure was loaned to the county
by the Federal Government to re-
lieve crowded conditions at the
Oxon Hill Elementary School. Six
grades, three in each classroom, Will
be taught there, he reported.
Present plans call for the build
ing to be used only this year, Mr.
Schmidt said. When the new senior
high school at Oxon Hill, now un-
der construction, is completed the
present high school will be converted
to lower grade use, thus relieving
overcrowding and making use Of the
Fort Washington school unnecessary
he explained.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
County Bor Association
Elects S. M. Peach

Attorney S. Marvin Peach Of
Hyattsville is the new president of
the Prince Georges County Bar
Association.
Mr.. Peach, who maintains law Of
fees in Hyattsville and Upper Marl-
boro, was elected yesterday during
the annual meeting of the bar
group in the County Courthouse,
Upper Marlboro. He succeeds M.
Hampton Magruder of Upper Marl-
boro.
Ralph w. Powers of Largo, who
maintains an office in Hyattsville,
was named vice president of the
group, while Alan Bowie. one Of the
countys three trial magistrates, was
reelected secretary treasurer a post
he has held since founding Of the
organization about 40 years ago.
Judge Bowie's home is in Brandy
wine.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Trusty Who Fled Lorton
Now Back in Custody

Lorton Reformatory trusty, who
ran away from the institutions
farm yesterday, is back in custody
today after about eight hours OF
freedom.
The convict, identified as Willie
Lee johnson, IS, colored. walked of
the farm adjoining Lorton yester-
day afternoon. johnson had served
two months of a sentence of from
10 months to three years for forg-
cry.
The convict was picked up short
ly before midnight last night on the
road between Alexandria and
Washington by w. F. Fleming, su-
perintendent of the District Work
house, and A. C. Faison. assistant
of the reformatory,
who were searching for him.
Evening star., 1948-09-29

course, he has had previous service)
Why did the Army do this, which
seems to circumvent that deferment
provision? The Army gives this
answer:
What is needed is a trained re-
serve force, a strength in being"
The quickest way to get that
strength is to send eligible men to
|21 months of intensive training
through the draft.
1t might be possible to take
man with no prior service, put him
in a reserve unit, defer him from
the draft and some day come up
with a well-trained, potential fight
ing man. But that certainly is not
the quickest way to do the job.
The better way, says the Army, is
to send that man to 81 months of
full-time Army training and then
put him in the ORC where his
weekly drill and training period will
keep him in fighting trim. The
Army points out that almost the
entire ORC is made up Of men
who have had war service.
That's the Army thinking, and
circular 247 makes it clear.
So the Army reservists with no
prior service) who rate deferment
are those who joined the National
Guard on or before June "a.
Back to circular 247. After stat
ing that on June "a the only or
ganized units of the reserve forces
were these in the Federally recog-
nized National Guard. 1t goes on to
say that on and after June Is all
ORC units are to be classified as
organized units If they:
l. Fall within training category I
(48g drills and Is camp days each
year, or training category II CA
drills and Is camp days a year,.
2. Have been officially approved.
1t may seem queer that on. June
"a there were no organized units
of the ORC and the next day hun
dreds sprouted.
However, as the Army says, the
draft act wasn't passed to keep men
out of the draft.
prom Associated Press Nevsteatureso
Evening star., 1948-09-29
a Groups in Arlington
Indorse School Bonds

-Four Arlington civic groups last
night Endorsed the county's proposed
$4,750,000 school bond issue for
which a referendum is sought in
November.
The bond plan was Endorsed at
meetings of the Executive Board of
the League of Women Voters, the
Columbia Pike Citizens Association,
the Peyton Randolph Parent-Teach-
er Association and the Arlington
Forest Civic Association.
The leagues Executive Board in
dorsed the school bond issue after
hearing reports from nine neigh
borhood study groups, which re-
ported they favored the plan.
The league took no stand on a
proposal to change the election date
for School Board members.
The Columbia pike group sup
ported the school bond issue after
hearing it discussed by Riggs Nc
Cormick of the Citizens Committee
for School Improvement The asso-
citation reiterated its opposition to
changing the School Board election
date.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
|3mFomiy Killed
| By Truck While
Going to Church
By the A.soeiated Press

ROANOKE, Va, Sept. "a
mother and two of her children were
killed last night at Troutville when
they were struck by truck as they
walked along the highway in the
rain to church.
The victims were Mrs. Edna Ann
Basham, As, wife of a Roanoke
filling station operator; her 14-year-
old son, Donald Basham, and H.
year-old daughter, Margaret Basham
State police said
Another son, Robert Basham, 10
was injured.
Mrs. Basham and her daughter
Margaret were killed outright. Don
ald died in an ambulance en- route
to hospital here.
The father, w. E. Basham, said
MS wife and children had just left
the house and were walking to
church to attend a baptism.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Barney House Chosen
As Chest Agency 10
Receive 'Face-Lihinq'

The Barney Neighborhood House,
470 N street S.W.. has been selected
as the Community Chest Fedora
ton agency which will get a one
day lifting" by the building
industry here on October 9.
The plan to renovate the house
was advanced by the Washington
Building Congress and the Building
Trades Council, AFL, to emphasize
the chest appeal this year for con-
tributions Of q days take-home
pay.
The drive for $4,5s6,7so in the
District area opens formally on
October 7, Red Feather Day. 1t is
on this day that residents will be
asked to contribute the days pay.
Meanwhile. a schedule Of tour.
Of Community Chest agencies. which
the public is invited to take, was
announced by the federation Of.
ficials.
Tours Begin at 2 PM.
The tours will continue this week
next week and possibly during the
week beginning october TO- Each
day groups of volunteer workers In
the Chest drive will be taken or
the tours Some space is to be left
over for interested citizens.
Arrangements to take one Of the
tours may be made with Mrs. Helen
Martin, at Community Chest Head
quarters. i101 M street NV. who Is
tour secretary. All tours will begin
at 2 pm.
Today's group will see the opera
lions at the Children's Country
Home, the Catholic Charities anc
the Episcopal Home. Tomorrow the
tour will cover the Hospital Service
Agency. George Washington Uni
versity Hospital and the Christ Child
Settlement House. Fridays tour will
60 to the Washington Hearing
Society. the Hebrew Home for the
Aged and st. AIMS Infant Asylum
Rally Tomorrow Night.
Other events scheduled include:
A Red Feather rally At pm. to-
morrow at Constitution Hall spon-
sored by the Washington Board OF
Trade. 1t is the fall general men,
bership meeting of the Board OF
Trade but has been scheduled to CO.
incide with the Chest campaign
Henry Ford II. national president OF
Community Chests of America ano
president Of the Ford Motor Co.. will
speak.
A visit to the Friendship House
6l9 D street Sc, at 1890 pm. to-
morrow by Chest officials and CIC
President Philip Murray and AFI
President William Green.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Church Choir Sponsors
Silver Spring Program

The Chancel Choir Of the Wood
side Methodist Church, Silver
Spring, viii sponsor a musical pro-
gram at 8:15 pm. tomorrow and
Friday in the Social Hall.
The program will include selec-
tions by the Woodside Male Chorus,
directed by Harrison T. Meserole
an operetta "Windmills of Holland, -
directed by Dorothy r. Emery, and
vocal and violin duets.
Evening star., 1948-09-29
Police Are Confident
Of Finding Slayer Of Z
DESPITE Lack Of Clues.

Despite an apparent dearth of
clues, Anne Arundel County police
expressed confidence today they viii!
find the slayer Of John H. Mahlan,
Is, and Mary c. Kline, 1s, the Glen
Burnie couple shot to death nearly
two weeks ago.
With only one man being held
for questioning, and he not regarded
as suspect, the reason for Police
Chief John H. Souers' optimism was
not readily apparent.
This is a battling case," he told
reporters, but we have had battling
ones here before, and I am confident
We will break this one one of these
days"
Chief Souers said he wished to
talk further today to 48-year-old
storekeeper picked up yesterday at
his store near the corner of Defense
and Generals highways, about 4
miles from the place where the
bodies were found September 20.
Find Two Pistols.
After locking up the man police
returned to the store and found two
pistols slightly larger than 80 cal
iber.
Police have told newsmen they
believe the death gun was .38,
and last night broadcast a teletype
request asking police Of 13 States
to be on the lookout for such q
weapon.
Mr.. Mahlan, a Navy war veteran
and postal clerk, and Miss Kline,
who had been dating him for two
years, were killed the night of Fri
day., September II. after, they had
left for an automobile ride.
The car was found S miles SOUTH
east Of Glen Burnie, but the bodies
were found in a field near the
junction of Defense highway and
Chesterfield road, II miles away.
Each had been shot through the
head once. The cars front windows
each had a bullet hole Miss Kline's
left shoe was found in the back
seat and there was blood in both
seats.
City Police Not Active.
Although it was announced earlier
Baltimore homicide squad detec-
tive had been assigned to the case,
Chief Souers said thus far city police
have not been active.
"As soon as all the evidence IS
assembled, I will want them all in
on it." he said. I'm not interested
in who solves this case, but I want
it solved"
He said he did not think Baltimore
police would be much help at this
stage of the investigation because
they are not familiar with the coun-
| tryside.