Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 January 1941 — Page 21

PAGE 20

Serial Story— Conscript's . Wite-

By BETTY WALLACE

YESTERDAY: With Bill. gone, Martha’s life seems empty. She has only Butch, the dog, for comfori. But Paul sets ont to follow Bill's list order, to §2ep Martha happy. He prescribes food, movies, gaiety. The second night he and Suzanne come to the apartment for dinner, then go to a show, but Martha cannot hide her grief.

CHAPTER FOUR * IN THE DAYS that followed, Martha Marshall realized more and more poignantly what it meant to be what she herself had called a ‘“conscript’s wife.” It meant peering anxiously into e Jetterbox, every morning. If there was a letter from Bill, she read ‘it. at once. If there was no letter, she went unhappily off to work. It meant listening to a great deal of silly, well-meant consolation. “As if,” she thought fiercely, “Bill had died!” It meant pressing loneliness, even ‘when Paul and Suzanne ‘were with her, and they were with iher practically all the time. But no matter how late they stayed, when she turned on the pedside lamp in the bedroom, and the neatly made up béd stared up at her mockingly. It meant, too, long letters from her sister. - “The best thing for you to do is come and stay with us, Martha. There's no esnse in you keeping up the apartment just for yourself. It’s too expensive. We'd ‘be glad to have you.” "She knew what staying with Helen ‘would be like. Helping with the ' three children, doing the housework, sitting in the cluttered parlor and listening to her brother-in-law’s interminable business troubles. Oh, ‘no! Just because Bill was gone didn’t mean she must stop living for a year, But in everything that mattered, she had stopped living. She thought, wonderingly, “How did I manage before I married Bill? I was alone then.” The days before she became his ‘wife were shadowy and unreal, as if they had happened to another girl. “And of course, I was engaged to “Paul . . .” He had taken her about a great deal. . To expensive restaurants, and the gay Club Tortilla. She remembered the time one of the pilots from the plant had flown ‘them to the West coast. Paul had a conference there, and she stayed in a gorgeous pink hotel on the beach, and. after the conference they'd gone swimming ih the blue water. The flight back had been made in darkness. She recalled the pin-points of light, far kelow, when they flew over cities; and the sense “of adventure which had flooded her. A an BILL -HADN'T the money for expensive - restaurants. - The = Club Tortilla, where an evening's check amounted to at least $20, was out of the question. Yet things with Bill had been more fun. ‘The magic of being together made a cup of coffee around the corner from the : 20-cent movie heaven indeed. In the office, the girls were kind. ‘They asked her to their homes for dinner. She refused, gently, but she appreciated their thoughtfulness. One of the girls asked, “But what do you do with yourself?” Another girl—the thin file clerk who worked right there in the En:gineering—said, “Oh, Mr. Elliott doesn’t let you get lonely, does he?” There was a dreadful silence. Martha felt anger rising inside her. She said coldly, “Mr. Elliott and his fiancee are old friends of mine.” Suzanne wasn’t his fisncee. But she couldn't let a crack like that get by! 2 . It: made her wonder, dully, if it ‘was wise to see so much of Paul. But that was nonsense! Just because she used to be &ngaged to him. .Hadn’t Bill himself said, *»Take care of her for me, Paul.”

“had been gone three weeks, Paul turned up at the apartment with- © out Suzanne. “We had,” he explained, “a little ‘disagreement ,last night, after we left you.” 3 “Oh.” She wondered if he would . tell her what it had been about. ‘But he didn’t. He only sezid, “I'll ‘show her!” smiling, as though it was all rather silly and uhimportant, “You and I,” he went on, “are going to the Davenport for dinner “tonight.” : ; “But—" “That’ll make he said. - Somehow, there was something not ‘quite light in his tone. But she meekly got her coat, and off they went. . The Davenport was the swank- * ‘lest restaurant in town. They had come here often, ‘long ago. The “headwaiter even: remembered them, and led the way to the table in the ‘corner where they used to sit. .. She was conscious, as she looked ‘around, -of the fact that her simple “dark dress, the gold chain at her throat, were too demure, not up to the style of the ruby vélvet dinner dress .of the woman at the next table. She had never used to worry about her clothes before. Because then she had lived in 4 two-by-four . room in a boarding house and all her money went on her back. Now, it was different. She realized suddenly, she hadn't had 4 new dress for months. “I feel,” she told Paul, “like a beggar maid.” And she kept wondering about Suzanne. “Stuff,” said Paul picking up the long printed menu. 8 B® =

. IT WAS a delicious dinrer, from the shrimp cocktail straight through to the luscious Faench pastry. * Martha giggled, “I'm full to the I must have gained five pounds.” “It won't hurt you, er this, you know.” “Thin?” she exploded. “Paul Elliott, I weigh 115 pounds and ‘that’s plenty! Wouid you like to see me “ bloated up like a balloon?” “You haven't looked well since . Bill left,” he said soberly. “There are circles under your ¢yes. You're not—not as energetic somehow. No spirit.” She dropped her eyes. “I do miss

Suzarine burn!”

Wou're rath-

“It’s senseless to worry.” “1 haven't been worrying.” After a while he said, “We've seen about every movie in town. “How about going for a drive?” it came to her, how very

Pal

HOLD EVERYTHING

corn. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, | : “Better keep An ¢ye, on me,

FUNNY BUSINESS

“But, Mother, he’s not a

4 | § COPR. 1941 L] | T. M REC. U. 8. a

real docior—he didn’t make me say ‘Ah-h-h!’”

Sarge, when that hat c(mes into range!”

THIS CURIOUS WORLD

NARY AT THE A OF EIGHTEEN TO STURDY FOR THE PRIEST: oop /

9 : £4 § “DAMN THE TORPEDOE 5, GO| AHEAD,” | "DONT GIVE UP THE SHIFL™

FOUR COUNTRY, Ri 3.7 fy RIGHT OR WRON ©.’

Mediterranean, |

By w illiam Ferguson

SOON arter/

he HEXAGONAL.

OF BEES AND WASPS ARE NOT PLANNED THAT WAY/ THEY ARE (CYLINDERS CINDER LRESSIIRSE,

€. M. RED. U. 8, PAT. OFF

1-9

ANSWER—David Farraguf at Kfobile Bay; ames Lawrence, in battle between Chesapeake and Shannon; Stephen Decatur, in the

(U. P.) —The Alpha Chapter of the Fraternity of the Wooden Leg plans to establish an international headquarters here by| Jan. 15 with an engineering boar¢ to assist niembers in securing properly fitted artificial limbs. ] According to Paul J. Camjibell, international president and founder of the organization, the rewly opened roster of the fraternity) lists members from Shanghai, Ching, to London, England, ; Mr. Campbell's brotherhood of cheerful cripples was born scaieely more than a year ago wher he began to address fellow weare’s of artificial limbs ‘as “amputees,” and in his role as publisher-of a n:igh-

Fraternity of Wooden Leg ~ Gains International Status

EAST ST, LOUIS, II, Jan. 9,

borhood newspaper here, Mr. Campbell frequently devoted editorials to humorous dessertations on the proper method for learning to use an artificial leg— citing his own experiences in the 25 years since he lost a leg in a triffic accident. Soon Mr. Campbell began to get letters from rpaders urging a magazine and a club for cripples. One of th¢ fraternity’s earliest pledges was Edgar Bergen’s “Charlie McCarthy.’ : Less than a year after the foungding of the o)ganization, there was a second meipnber in the Campbell family, Paul M. Campbell, 19-year-old son of the founder, was in-

jured in a 1hotorcycle crash, and

his right leg was removed.

like the old days this was. They didn’t talk much, driving sglong. They never had. - She wondered fleetingly: @boui Suzanne, hoped Paul would bring her with hira to= morrow night. Fe switched oi: the radio. There was a quiz program. A man’s voice ‘asked, “Now, Mr. Smith, what stafe in ‘the ‘union; has the smallest population?” i “Arizona,” Marthe said idly. || “Utah,” Paul insisted. The women on the radio wks silent for a long time. At lasi she said, “I'mi afraid I don’t knov;.” “Sorry, Mrs. Smith. The ariswer is Nevada.” : : | “We were in the right part of the country, anyway,” said Martha. “Nevada, eh? You wouldn’t' thik — with Reno—but that’s a sort of floating population, I suppose.’ : o ” ” PAUL DIDN"I' answer. Renc: The divorce center. : ! “The Army’s just as good as Reno for separating people,”. Marthe. said. “And a whole lot cheaper.” “But not quite as permaner:.” . Suddenly, with a s :

wheel, he was Larni i to home, ¥. around,

At her own door, as she shook hands with Paul in goodnight, there began a fearful scratching from the other side. | ‘Butch!” she exclaimed. “I almost forgot Fim. I'd better let him out. right nov, or he’ll break trainnded out,

ing.” i Butch boy gratefully, making straight for the stairs. “I'll walk around the block ‘with him), Martha, and bring him back to you.” “Thanks, Faul. And I did have a lovely time.” | She remaiied in" the little foyer, the door ope, waiting for Butch to come “back. | From the hall closet the sleeve cf Bill's raincoat stuck out. There'd been no raincoat in the list of clothes the Government

told him to pring. Impulsively, she |

reached for iit, brushing it against her cheek. | Suddenly the heard a voice, indignant and very loud. “That man’s walking aroiind the block with her dog at this ime of night, and look —her door is open! Imagine such goings on!” |

wift turn pf the,

(To Be Continued)

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

mE ew))> PR ep

pmMO<® gm»

VwoeowE- ITn>E

: With Major Hoople 7 BLAST THIS CONTRAPTION! waa

LESSEE WHAT I GOT HERE: — Z

"DEAR MAYOR -THE BEARER,JACOB LUCKY IT HOCPLE, HAS BEEN A VALYOOBLE MAN HAPPENED TO IN PITTSBURGH,AND T HOPE YOU CAN Z PICK LP THIS BUMP HIM FIND A NICE SPOT FOR HIM INNOUR 7 STATIONERY IN Orr! / CTY HALL ww. SOME LIGHT, GENTLE PITTSBURGH, ww) (GRAB His |] WORK wwHE'S A GREAT FELLA! Yours! 2 DoveH! 4 wns AND THEN T SIEN THE SHERIFFS jr 22, =)

= SHUT UP, YOu - ESN & E30 &

= PAN

UP ON A PERCH IN THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION!

CROW, OR YOU'LL WIND

MATT

COULD SPELL, HE'D BE PRESIDENT=

T D

nr P2Maae

OUT OUR WAY

FRESHLY , PAINTED”

THE GREAT AMERICAN PREPAREDNESS

CARTER HAD TO DUMP ASHES AN’ HAYDON HAS TO TAKE TH BABY OUT-- AN’ KNOX HAS TO GO TO TH DENTIST AN' FEARON AN JAMES HAVE GOT A JOB CLEANIN' A

AMES AN’ CHAPIN ARE KEPT IN SCHOOL AN DAKIN HAS HIS MUSIC LESSON -- AN’ KNAPP WELL, HE'S

Wepre 4.

io LD

TRWILUAMS, i T.M. neo, oy 8. PAT. OFF, COPR. 1941 BY NEA SERVICE, ING.

Lo | 4 74 4

COPR. 194

LUSSES [- FOLKS Wikt GO Be ARI I, PAINT #7 = AHL L. TA PAINT IT" OVER /!S A

ENT CAN TRAGEDY.

HURRY, MR. RYDER ¢ 1---1-- CANT HOLD OUT MUCH LONGER /

O.K., NANCY--I'LL MEET You THERE AFTER — LUNCH!

OH, FLOY FLOY-- I'M GOING OVER To THE Z00 To FEED THE ANIMALS SOME | PEANUTS /

PEANUTS To ANIMALS ---1'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE!

FIRST WE WILL REMOVE THE DOOR, MY LITTLE SPARROW. THEN WE WILL MAKE FOR You A SNUG PLACE BESIDE THE JAMS AND JELLIES

LmrxXOm»wW

nN=->rne

cZ> MmM-—ww)>

SOUNDS UKE A SQUADRON OF PLANES! THEY SURE ARE MAKING A RACKET /

HTL HLTH ATTEN Lg A LA

NOU NEEDN'T et \ ? roy 1 A

7 RL.

WHEN I AVE FINISHED, IT WILL SVE JUST THE PROPER SECLUSION FOR A BRAVE LITTLE G-GIRL. WHO LIKES TO GET IN OTHER PEOPLE'S WAY

AH, WHAT A PITY YOUR . COMPANION IS NOT HERE TO

it 7 \

£0 \ Us WAT & MINUTE

I ] |

NOW | HOPES WE UNDERSTANDS EACH

~WHY DON‘TCHA KEEP q REPEATIN' MY NAME TO YOUR= SELF-BATHLESS GROGGING 1BA S GROGGINS--GET IT? NOW LET'S GET AT THAT TURKEY ‘DINNER >=

GO INTO DINNER -~

60'S YOU WON'T BRING : UP THAT UNPLEASANT SUBJECT AGAIN~

| BATHS «FOR

A TAKES

| GOT NOTHIN' AGAINST OTHER , IT'S A WONDERFUL INSTITUTION #- SOME O'MY BEST FRIENDS BATHS

By. 8. PAT. OF) Lan 4 : Fe FINE THING A FINE SN n (Ra x

ANNONE WOULD TH KNOW HOW TO MIND MX OWN | BUSINESS \

SST

UITAGL LHELSE q

FULL POUND

THE MOST DELICIOUS WINTER SALADS °