Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 January 1941 — Page 18

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| By BETTY WALLACE

.around her. ;

- “It's a good thing we have Peg,”

. hungrily. She must remember the

‘her lip. They had never been

' you, Martha.” ~ whispered, “I love you, Bill Mar-

Job back—afterward.”

~ have to take you back.”

"her.

Martha Marshall thought, as she

derwear,

“huh?” : awakened to duty, too. gould hardly believe it when she

Bill's shower running, - streaming in the windows, and the

the last day. He goes tonight. Tonight!”

PAGE 18 __- ‘Serial Story—

‘Conscript's|

Wife

YESTERDAY — Martha Marshall had been engaged to Paul Elliott for iwo vaurs before she met Bill Marshall, Paul’s school chum. And she had married Bill less than a month later. Now, still a bride, she and Bill make a four- . some with Paul and Suzanne Decker. Comes registration for draft. Bill is in Class I, since Martha is finaneially independent and Bill's work is not essential to defense. Then one day, there is a letter for Bill. He has been draftéd.

CHAPTER TWO

SHE SEEMED TO HEAR him saying it again. “I've been drafted.” And the room was still swimming

“Honey,” Bill: pleaded. “Darling, don’t look like that. It’s nothing. If I have to go, I have to go.” Martha steadied herself. Her husband’s face came back into focus. She saw his’crisp dark curls, the tightened line of his lips. Her fingers went up, to- pat his cheek. So:he had been conscripted, after all. There was nothing they could do to change it. He would go away. For a whole year. His country needed him. The United States of America. . . . Her. thoughts flitted in anc out, like little darting birds. Bill would be a soldier. But there was no war. Only a precaution, a defense. Only a year in an Army camp. Duty. . . . “Lots of men enlist,” Bill was saying softly. “Lots of men join the ‘army for a career.” His arms were around her. He kissed her. “It’ll only be like—like having a job out of town, Martha. You could come up to camp weekends. I'll be home on leave sometime.” #2 8 =n THEY WALKED out into the street. Peg, so rusty and dilapidated, so contrary, was suddenly dear. she ‘said. “I can drive up to see you.” . : “Yes, if the camp’s not over 10 miles away. I wonder—where do they send the men from this vicinity?” He added thoughtfully, “funny, how you; never give the army a thought. I bet I can’t name two forts, off hand. And what I remember from ROTC drill in high school, yeu could stick in the eye of a needle.” Separation. She looked at him

line of his jaw, the blue of his eyes, the way his hands were big and capable on the wheel. She bit

separated, not even for a night, since the minister had sdid the solemn words over them. And now, they’d be apart for a year. A whole year. It stretched before her, barren and endless. “In case I never told you before,” Bill was saying. “I love

“In case I never told you,” she

shall.” He straightened his shoulders. “I'll break the news to them at the store.” He was struck by another thought. “I wonder if I'll get the “There’s a law about if. They “Yes, if the guy who comes after me doesn’t let a ‘lot of deadbeats walk out with diamond rings so there ‘won't be any store to come ‘back to.” He stopped. “You know, I always meant to get you a ring, Martha, Better than the one—the one—" The one Paul had given

“Don’t sweet.” “But I should have saved my money. I didn’t.” “I've got a ring,” she said. only one I want.” . His hand closed over hers. At the Air Transport plant, Martha said, “I'll ask for time off. I want to stay with you every minute, until] you—leave.” She stumbled as she got out of the car. The blood pounded in her ears. It seemed to her almost as though she was saying farewell to the gay and careless life they’ had known until now. Saying farewell to the laughter and dancing and the irresponsibility. The country had giver. her .husbend a stern duty to perform; and she, as his wife, had her part in it, too. She’d have to stay home, alone and waiting. She'd have to come to this office every morning. Not as before, simply because it made things easier — but because now there’d be her own living to make.

“The

: 2 8 8 DUTY, IT WAS a big word. Strangely, an unfamiliar word.

walked into the sunny office where she typed specifications for airplanes, that perhaps their generation — hers and Bill’s — had heard ‘all too little of duty until now. It had never been a stern taskmaster to be reckoned with. No one had preached its necessities, it had had no part in their lives. Paul Elliott raked his strong fin‘gers through his hair when she told him Bill had been called. “Nice mess! I thought they'd use some discretion. First crack out of the fishbowl, they hook a married man. He told her to go right home. “I'll fix everything.” The thought of duty stayed with her. While she helped Bill pull out dresser drawers, ort out unpack his suitcase, she thought, “At least this isn’t such a hard duty. I'm not sending him to war. Not yet.” ’ The store had given him a month's salary. “For the next six months, Martha, they'll send you a check for half salary. Decent,

“Wonderful of then.” They had It all happened so swiftly. She

woke one morning to the sound of the sun

voice in her brain saying, “This is

At breakfast, he said, #“Im actually. liking the idea. IT was getting fed up at the store. Felt. like 2 mule on a treadmill. Same old customers, buying the same old junk. Asking them, got a job, how much you make, how much can pay a week?’ 1 didn't

lcarrying suitcases and older women

Her breath caught.

. @OPR 1981 BY NEA SERVICE, {NC. T. M. REG. U. S. PAT. OFF, ;

I} i i i il i

1-7

«That must be the riew strategist I heard the general wis getting!”

FUNNY BUSINESS,

{coPR. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, NC. T. M. REG. U. 8. PAT.

“Quick! Order some cbld remedies!” |

THIS CURIOUS (WORLD

i il il

hea

Ir vou ARE EXTREMELY

YOU CANT JOIN THE U.S. ARMY, | |

HOW ! PERFECT | YOU MAY | 4

Eh = 3 : SF

HY DO CIK3AR DEALERS OFFER A CIUSTOMER THE WHOLE BOX... SO THAT HE MAY PICK OUT, THE DESIRED NUMBERS

ALE | i EL PASO, TEXAS,

IS ABOUT 3CO MILES CARTIER WEST

| THAN GARDIEN CITY,

KANSAS... BJT WHEN IT'S AVOOAV IIN EL PASO, IT’S ONLY //|A.M. IN GARDEN | CITY

ANSWER: Not because of any Fideral law, as may people believe,

but merely as i sanitary measure.

monotonous after a while.” They'd gotten monotonous in New York. That’s why he [paine here, she remembered. |

She laughed it [pff. “The Army

won't be monotonous. Not much. ||

Drills and hiksg or whatever they|! She scarcely hijard him. She was

call it.”

aboard!” There) was the rising snort of the engine, the deepening fumble of wheels] The train began to move. Marthe waved frantically.

keep up. “Bill!| Bill!” Paul said, “Maitha. Don’t.”

running along beside the train, her

Paul rang their doorbell half an hour before train time. “I should have brought flowers,” he said. “But I got this.” It was a compact |

eyes on Bill's face. “Goodby, darling. Goodby.” | But she wanted another moment|of seeing him. She ran as if, somelbw, she could keep

kit, leather, with comb and mirror iy, As if, someliow, she could pre-

and razor and chromium contain- vent

ers for soap, toothpaste, shaving] cream, i { “Say, that’s swell!” Bill grinned. |

wile = i

THE THRE of them piled into the front seat of the old car. Bill] slung his suitcéise in the back. Al dejected Butcly leaping in behind them, sniffed tinhappily and asked

in low growls whal was wrong.

“Look,” Paul said, as they turned into the station drive. “The parking lot’s jammed.” | Laughing girls and girls who weren't laughing and men clutching handkerchiefs were ting out of thé other cars. “I'm not the only one who's being left behind,’ Martha said. It was cold comfort. | | Inside the slation was crowded and noisy. A$ they pushed their way toward ‘¥& gite, Paul said, “Reminds me of 4 scene from a news: reel. Kissing the beys gooctby.” Martha's eyes stung, her lips quivered. But she had promised herself she wauld send Bill away with a smile. || | “You'll write to me, Bill? Every day?” i ! Bill set his suitcase down. “Well, this is it, honey.” His arms reached for her, and suddenly she was clinging- to him. ‘Bill. Oh, Bill, darling.” : wo] “Don’t cry, honey. £11 be thinking ‘of you eyery minute.” : He shook lands with Paul. “Take care of her, boy,” he <=aid gruffiy. “I'm depending on you.” {2 Martha stood there 8 girl of storie as Bill mouriied the little steps into the train. Ilis face appeared at a W,” Over someone else's

get-

being left kihind. But inexorably the train moved faster, Bill's face was drawing away. Then it {vas gone. Her arm dropped to her side. “He's gone. I'm alone.” ; Paul was runiiing toward her. All at once, she was laughing. “Paul,” she cried hystetically, “Paul, I'm a conscript’s wife, now.” (To Be| Continued) Wo} eee: (All events, names and characters in this story aje fictiticus.)

i nn —————

BOOK CLASS OPENS FOR LOCAL MOTHERS

Twenty-four | Indianapolis mothers today retiirned to school to learn what are|the proper and best books to select) for their children. The class, to/be instructed by the

| |Public Library's Children’s Department in the Central Library audi-||

torium for 90 niinutes each Tuesday, will last throiigh Feb. 25. The women 'will hpar lectures ‘by Miss Carrie E. Scot, supervisor of children’s work inthe Public Library. At the con jiusion of the eight weeks course, tne class members will return to thet] own study groups to instruct fellow; members. Class topicsjjare: Aids and principles in the [ielection of children’s books, Jan. ‘i; books for. younger children, gurepry rhymes and picture books, Jén. 14; poetry, folklore and fairy talps, Jan. 21; types of stories, Jan. 28; books for older children, refe/lence . school

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

‘4 THEY WAS FOUR OF 'EM, TOUGH AS JAIL HOUSE BISCUITS! TH' BiG GUY HAD A MUG LIKE GARGANTUA, BUT T RAN MY ROD Z UP 'N' DOWN HIS RIBS LIKE A KID RUNNIN' TH' SCALE ON A

PICKET FENCE, AN' HE LAMMED ww) (| BUMP

WHERE'D THAT Dd BIRD GIT THAT

LI'L ABNER

ANY AND

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

MPAR FOLIND AT TH CRIME WITH

] ~SUSPECT.

IF BOTH SETS OF FINGER-~ PRINTS ARE THE. SAM SUSPECT IS GUILT Ye

Scientific facts on Crime.

Fingerprints ‘

NOT IETRSE FPOSRPRINTS

THE MOST POSITIVE WAY OF . IDENTIFYING A CRIMINAL IS COMPARING THE. FINGERPRINTS E SCENE. OF THE HOSE OF THE. -

E, THE

PROFESSOR ! ANSWE

IF YOu CAN/

EH THERE'S { GOING TO BE

AN ICE SHOW IN THE BALL PARK TODAY!

WASHINGTON TUBBS II

4 MY WORD/

With Major Hoople

TUESDAY, JAN. 7, 1941 By Williams |

THIS IS AS BLOOD -CURDLING > AS A PAGE - FROM THE

SABER WITH A BURNISHIN' CHAIN AN

2) 72 2

> V7

/ y

THEY SAY THATS ASIGN OF A WEAK STOMACH-=-. WELL, WHEN ALL PEOPLE GIT LIKE THAT THERE'LL

A SOLDEROF HIS \ GLY GITS HIT, BOTH ARMIES WILL ALL AN’ CAN'T STAND / DROP OVER IN A T™ SIGHT OF FAINT AN' TH, ; BLOOD ER | WARWILL BE 4 OVER! AS

THE WARRIOR ~

a 7 Vd RWILLIAME, \

OCOPR. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, INC. .

—By Al Capp’

NATCHERLY PERSON ROUN' bi fon 78a Res PPED O HER

FINGERPRI 3 MMY'S AN’ PAPERS NS HARM AT ALL

BUT TWOLLONT DQ NO, HARM T SOMBARE > 3, N A

WELL --- WE'RE ALL SET---1 MADE SOME HOLES IN THE FENCE --- NOW WE CAN ALL —, SEE THE SHOW!

NO HARM AT ALL, SON— 7?

—By Fred Harman < “3%Y NEVER MIN KS TF NEVER WIND BANKS

e Re N\

ROPEESGR FELL DOWN THIS WELL --- GEV EVERY FOOT OF

—By Bushmiller. |

TC ERAIE ASIA IL dE Rm ww

a 33 We DAE

a AN.

By Crane |

SO YOU ARE A 6-GIRL! A BRAVE AND DASHING G-GIRL! HOW DELIGHTFULLY ROMANTIC! ONCE YOU MADE THE FOOL OF ME. BUT

Suddenly she was running, trying to J

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS

NOT BELIEVE! FOR FF YOU KNEW EVERYTHING, YoU WOLILD NOT 'AVE BOTHERED TO RENT THE APARTMENT

NEXT TO Me

WEW, HEH! THAT IDO |

7 COME, COMRADES, TO THE CELLAR WITH OUR LITTLE ) SPARROW! THERE IS VET TIME TO CL\® HER ’

he PRETTY WINGS!)

ne \S

books for home

—

CTX BWM

BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

*oosnyl.| wowLL I

TRYING TO ATom 2

7 Ey ABBIE AN' SLATS (“HE ISN'T AWARE THAT A COPY OF THE WILL

HAS BEEN REPRODUCED on HIS BACK IT MU

("WHAT ARE You DOING IN HERE ALONE 2 ARE You ISOLATE THE

JIvE JUST BEEN DOING SOM

G SOME THINKING /

THANKS, PAL. M'CLOTHES MUST BE DRY NOW. I'LL

(WEN, BOOTS WHEN T GET THERE, MOUNTAIN BN WHICH \S “Goon” 2

(Poor. WAN Y TL [ET XOWRE Set

WMNOW WHICH \S Th ABOU TERD

OW, TAL GE ONY GAN) \ KID. SURE. owe. | WRT Soman it We i 7] THE TRIP

Were 2007S, END ‘ER BROTHER }

FORFEITS, AND IM THE Jupce/

HAVE THE OWNER OF IT GO

‘OUTSIDE AND COUNT, THE STARS

WITH JINNY WYNNE! HAVE HIM kiss HER FOR ME =--AND IF HILDA'S LISTENING , IM ONLY FOOLING /

[BUT- IT's SO / REFRESHING-S0 1.

PAL” LETS SKIP THE BATH AN'GETON TO PLEAGANTER SUBJ