Illinois Valley News, Thursday, January 23, 1941
Page Six
Kathleen Norris Says
When a Woman Deliberately
Fools Herself
ARED WHITE
W MAJ
(Bell Syndicate—WNU Service.)
THE * TO RY SO FAR: Colonel Flat­
will, acting assistant chief of staff G-2,
in charge of military intelligence, esti­
mated from secret information that there
were 200,000 European troops In Mexico
being prepared tor an attack on the
United States. Both he and the President
were powerless to act because of public
*
*
WELDERS
Wanted! Welders, Aviation Mechanics
and Radio Operators.
We train at
lowest coat. Ask for Booklet M. Seat-
tie YMCA Schools, SUS—4th, Seattle,
INSTALLMENT TWO
and eonsreasional opinion which failed
to realize the alsniScance of the troop«.
In an effort to obtain more definite proof,
Colonel FlasvUl tent Captain Bennin*.
daring American intelligence officer, to
the U. 8. ambassador In Paris. Here he
was told lo Impersonate Lieutenant
Bromlitz, a lormer American officer wbo
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
had planned to work with the foreign
agents in Mexico. Expelled from th*
U. 8. army, he had desired to set re­
venge for the "insult.”
Fortunately,
Bromlitz had been captured, so Benning
prepared to visit him in his cell to
study his mannerisms.
Now conUnue with the story,
TRUCK PARTS
Heavy-duty Motors,
bodies, tires, hoists.
axels,
part*,
TRUCK WRECKING COMPANY
*
*
*
*
******
"Sir, Major Bromlitz, reporting equipped, and have very little train­
Bromlitz, stretched out face down­ from Luxembourg for duty with ing in the team-play of the larger
ward on a cot, raised his face as General Van Hassek,” Benning said combat elements.”
"What do you know
the «teel door opened on the little briskly.
"Sit down, Bromlitz.” the other strength?”
hole to which he was confined. His
alert, beady black eyes searched the said without lowering his eyes. "I'm
"There are four army infantry di­
face of his visitor, and he sat up Van Hassek.”
visions and eighteen National Guard
as recognition came to his face.
The Van Hassek uniform was the infantry divisions together with
"Hello, Benning,” he said, his face simple brownish-tinted cotton khaki some four cavalry divisions. All
unaccountably brightening. "So it's of this new Mexican army. At the are at peace strength and it would
you come after me, eh? Well, I'm collar was a silver crescent, insig­ take months to put them on a war
glad, if I must be hanged, that it’s to nia of a lieutenant general. The footing, fully equipped. In total
be an American job."
only other ornaments on his severe­ manpower count on 300.000 men
"Merely a little visit, Bromlitz,” ly plain uniform were a glittering within the territorial limits.”
Benning answered. "I'm not to take order of merit at his left breast and,
"Ja. very good. What about their
you home, but you'll understand my under it, the iron cross.
fighting equipment?”
confession of gratification that you've
Some moments passed in which
"Pitiable, when you consider the
been run down at last. Corporal Hill, the only sound was the heavy ticking whole picture. Their artillery is
the man you killed, was a member of an immense German clock and largely World War vintage stuff.
of my company.”
the vague hum of traffic in the street They’re short on ammunition, anti­
They engaged in a strained con­ below.
aircraft, instruments of precision,
versation. Benning prolonged his
"Perhaps you can tell me, Brom­ modern rifles. Their anti-tank weap­
visit while he studied Bromlitz for litz,” Van Hassek mused without ons aren’t out of the factories yet.
his own purposes. He asked many change of voice or posture. "Yes, It would take them a year to make
questions of the Bromlitz stay in perhaps you can tell me.”
the weapons they'd need, if they
Luxembourg, which the prisoner an­
A faint smile passed his thick lips couldn't purchase them in foreign
swered freely. He was sharply puz­ as he went on: "I’ve just come up markets as they did for the World
zled by the evident good humor that from the Salon de Espera on a low­ War. But they have a high-class of­
his visit had brought to the fellow. er floor of the palace where I've in­ ficer personnel, thoroughly trained
But Bromlitz' parting word* cleared stalled a hospital. Perhaps I should and—”
up that enigma.
refer to it as my laboratory. In any
“Ja, I know of that,” Van Has­
"May I ask you a special favor, event, no one ever leaves it alive,
sek interrupted with a dash of im­
Benning?” Bromlitz asked as Ben­
patience. "But it takes modern
I hear he is going with another girl, not seriously, but he has taken her out
ning rose to go.
equipment and plenty of training to twice, and it makes me feel just heartbroken. I will never like anyone else as well.
The prisoner was suddenly sol­
fight a battle these days. Now, tell
emn, there was a pleading note in
me another thing, Bromlitz, would
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
bis voice, a beseeching look in his
FACE THE FACTS
the mass of Americans stick togeth­
black eyes.
HIS week I had two let­
“Stop fooling yourself” is the
er in event of invasion?”
”1 owe you no favors, Bromlitz,”
ters that said the same sound advice Kathleen Norris gives
Benning pondered briefly and an­
Benning said brusquely.
to women in love w ith men who do
swered. "I'm sure you can count on
thing; one from Nancy,
"A very little favor to a man who
not return their affections. When a
it that they will, sir.”
a girl of 16 in Los Angeles,
brief period of mutual love is termi­
must die,” the other implored. "Let
"But
what
if
they
were
overrun
nated, they try desperately to re­
me tell you, Benning, and you
and
the
other
from
Anne,
a
suddenly?
How long would they
store the old bonds of affection. Miss
mustn't say no. Your coming here
Norris advises them that the short­
stand up under terrific military pun­ woman of 44 in Boston. Each
has greatly relieved my mind. I
est way to peace is to realize the
ishment when they had their chance one was fooling herself and
was—suspicious that I must have
love affair is over. She admits this
offered them to—to buy their way each one wanted me to go
been betrayed to the French, but
may be a heartbreaking task, but be­
back to peace?”
on with the fooling.
now I know it was the American
lieves it is the best way out.
"Excellency,
is
it
probable
that
secret service that caught up with
It was the old question. “I
anyone would be audacious enough
me. A small distinction you say?
know
he likes me better than not done so. So after some hesita­
to attack the United States on her
But an important one to me. The
believing the whole thing to be
anyone
else; he was unmis- tion,
own
soil?"
Benning
asked.
“
I
mean
one fine thing in my life has been,
a dreadful misunderstanding and
when her potential resources in takeable in his attentions and mistake, I wrote him honestly. His
Benning, a girl, whom I hoped soon
wealth and manpower are taken into intentions for months, but answer came today. It was cheer­
to marry. Please will you take a
consideration?”
message to her at Luxembourg? Tell
something has happened—he ful, friendly, casual, and answers
Van Hassek snapped out, “That's
her I was killed by a train, drowned
absolutely nothing. He says he is
precisely why she must be attacked was away, or I was away, and terribly busy but will come around
—tell her anything but the truth. She
on her own soil, because of her la­ now for some weeks he hasn’t soon. This morning’s paper lists his
must think me dead. Out of
tent .strength.”
telephoned or come to see name as a guest at a smart little
loyalty she might wait for
_ »»
Benning pretended perplexity and me.
through empty years, and she's
theater supper given by one of our
countered, "I’m not sure I under­
fine for that ordeal, Please let
The girl of 16 is quite desperate prominent society women.
stand just what Excellency means.” about it.
think I'm honorably dead and can't
“I know he likes me better than
"I mean it was America’s stupid
ever return. You'll do that for me,
"I wrote him twice," she writes, any new-found friend.
We have
intervention that wrecked the world "and then I returned a book he had known each other for seven or eight
please, Benning!”
in the Great War.”
loaned me, and telephoned him to years, although the specially inti­
Sit down. Bromlits.”
CHAPTER III
"But didn't her strength turn the see if he had gotten it. He was as mate friendship only began last
balance in the last war. Excellen­ nice as he could be, and said he spring. For the first time in my
but they are only spies and traitors
would telephone as soon as he was life I am in love, and I cannot have
A tramcar took Benning from the
cy?”
who must die by one means or an­
free for an evening, but that was the whole thing terminate this way,
Colonia Station in Mexico City to
"Strength,
bah!
”
Van
Hassek
other. For some months I’ve been
a week ago, and I’m just sick about
Plaza Mayor, whence he crossed the
watching them at the moment they scoffed. "Not for more than a year it! I hear he is going with another and yet I have my pride to consider,
broad Mexican thoroughfare to the
after the United States jumped into
and I don’t want to overstep the line.
leave the world, yet I'm more mysti­
girl, not seriously, but he has taken
great stone hulk of the Palacio Na-
fied now than ever. So you tell me, the war did her soldiers fire a shot her out twice, and it makes me feel In what way can 1 attract him back
cional. He accosted a gendarme and
Bromlitz, if you can, is death the in battle. Then only after the French just heartbroken. I will never like to me, for I know that it would take
asked directions to General Van end of us?”
supplied her with cannon, the Brit­
little to restore the old happy con­
Hassek's headquarters.
ish with rifles, helmets, and gas any one else as well, and I seem fidence."
,
"Your
pardon.
Excellency,
”
Ben
­
incapable
of
getting
any
interest
in
The policeman shook a puzzled
masks, and both sides conducted a
Love
a
Fleeting
Fever.
ning
answered.
“
I'm
not
a
chap
­
head and answered. "I’ve heard of
military kindergarten to instruct her life except thinking of him.”
lain."
Older Woman's Case Sadder.
Both Forty-four and Sixteen are
no such general in Mexico, senor.”
divisions in the art of war. Ja,
The middle-aged woman is less fooling themselves. They know in
The other chuckled, and with a vi­ that was her latent strength!”
‘‘Perhaps,'’ Benning suggested,
despairing, but after all, her case their own hearts that until an en­
“you can direct me to General tality in his mirth that was not that
Van Hassek got up abruptly and is sadder, for at 44 a love-affair
gagement is announced and the ring
of an ailing man.
Hull."
with an amazing agility. He went
"The profession of arms is so vast to his desk and touched a call but­ bites pretty deep, and one is not safe on a woman's finger, a man is
The Mexican's face lighted up.
at all sure that there will be an­ as free as air. A few loveletters,
and he spoke almost in awe, "Si, and intricate. Bromlitz, I’ve given ton. The captain from the anteroom
other coming along in a year or two a few exquisite memories are all that
senor, if your credentials are im­ up all hopes of mastering it in de­ responded promptly.
to heal the wound.
remain to the woman, and at most
portant enough you may find Gen­ tail,” Van Hassek rejoined. “Be-
"Captain Schroff.” Van Hassek in­
"I was unhappily married more they would go only to prove what we
sides,
I find occasional diversion in structed. "I’m very well satisfied
eral Ruiz in the President’s suite at
than 20 years ago,” says the Boston all know anyway, that man is a
other lines of thoughts. So many,
the palace."
with Bromlitz. You may have him woman's letter.
"The marriage fickle animal, as woman is, and
many
people
must
die
of
violence
Benning smiled inwardly as he
report for the time being to Colonel was a mistake from the first, and that once that fleeting fever called
turned to the Porto Mariano and en­ within the next year or two that I've Bravot. Later I may have more after seven months of it we were
being in love is over, it is OVER.
tered the palace Many times since been trying to satisfy myself wheth­ important use for him.”
divorced; my daughter was born
Any attempts to restore it only be­
er
that
will
be
the
end
of
them.
”
arriving at Vera Cruz he had in­
some months later. This marital littles the woman in the man’s eyes.
"You
mean
that
many
will
die
in
quired about Van Hassek to find the
failure was a bitter experience to No man needs any reminder if he
CHAPTER IV
name unknown. It meant that Van war, I take it. sir," Benning suggest­
me, and for years I took no interest really wants to see a woman. In
Hassek. a real master of the Mexi­ ed.
Benning found himself assigned to whatever in men. devoting myself to the happy first stages of an affair
"Millions."
Van
Hassek
answered,
can forces, was entrenched behind
a stuffy little room that was piled my child and my profession. I am she has a thousand proofs of this.
a stout incognito, moving his pawns stifling a yawn.
high
with American newspapers and department head of a preparatory He finds excuses for messages, meet­
His pudgy arms thrust into the air
in the name of young Ruiz, the new
magazines.
Half a dozen other offi­ school for girls. My daughter, now ings, exchanges of notes.
dictator who had been placed tn over his head, his heels stretched cers were engaged in reading these 20, was married a few weeks ago.
Her life is one blissful reminder of
forward,
and
he
squirmed
erect
in
power by a swift, furious, and mys­
She has been the one great Interest his devotion.
publications
terious coup d’etat of European his huge chair.
in my life until recently, when I be­
Each day this group was required
Go Bravely On.
"You were. I'm advised, an Amer­
planning
came extremely friendly with a doc­
to make a summary of American
ican
army
officer,"
Van
Hassek
said,
When it stops, the only thing to
tor, widowed, two years younger
An elevator shot Benning to the
press opinion as affecting Mexican
than I am, and in every way the do i* to make the most of flattering
fourth floor. He presented his cre­ now speaking briskly in German. relations.
Outwardly a peaceful
“
I'm
told
there
are
serious
charges
memories, and go bravely on to the
man I have dreamed of all my life.
dentials to a staff officer with easy
enough
job.
but
one
that
Benning
exciting
friendship.
Re­
assurance So far, his carte d'iden- standing against you in the United knew to be a vital part of Van Has­ He is successful, good-looking, popu­ next
lar. music-loving; his daughter, an proaches and reminders will only
tite had passed him without ques­ States."
Benning said: "I hope you'll not sek's war machinery.
only child, has been with us in the annoy him. and destroy the remain*
tion. The staff officer directed him
During the next few days Ben­ school for a year.
judge
me by that. General Van Has­
of his affection.
down a tiled corridor that rang with
ning kept pretty much to himself,
"Billy began paying me real at­
For Sixteen, of course, life hold*
the clatter of military typewriters sek. Despite my past misfortunes though cautiously .making friends
and all the hum and buzz of a gen­ I'm a soldier, sir, and hold the view with the Austrian. Captain Fincke, tention last spring—a happy time for deeper and truer emotions; she will
that there is no other profession
me! We took both daughters on laugh at her little-girl tragedy some
eral headquarters.
who sat at his elbow. A bit at a
He was escorted into a large re­ worthy of a man That being so. time he meant to gather the infor­ little trip*, he dined often at my day. and regard the object of it with
ception room at the far end of ihe when circumstances beyond my con­ mation he had come for. If long risks little apartment, sent me books, indifferent amazement. But for For­
flowers, telephoned every day and ty-four the matter is more seriou*. I
palace. The staff officer got to hi* trol placed a price on my head in had to be taken in order to secure
finally asked me to have a photo It is a real calamity to hava
one country, haven t 1 the right to
feet grudgingly.
important secret informations, that graph taken especially for him. glimpsed, at that age. after the lone­
find service in another?”
'Til see if Excellency wishes you
"Ja, a soldier is always a soldier, would have to wait until he had the which I did.
ly and hard-working years, what
to report to him personally," he said
Her World Steps.
Bromlitz." Van Hassek answered lay of things at headquarters.
companionship and a borne and the
In German. He left the room, but
Mexico
City.
Benning
observed
in
"Then, quite suddenly, just three devotion of a fine man might mean,
was back in a few moments to say, with an approving nod. "I enjoyed his off-duty strolls, was serene and
week* ago, everything stopped. I and to relinquish it will be a hard
"General Van Hassek will see you my three years in China as much untroubled
was stunned. No message, no tele­ slow painful task.
as
my
station
in
Vienna;
and
Mex
­
at once. Major.”
Mexican troops themselves had phone. no dates; it left me feeling
ico is even more to my liking be­
Women pay high for everything
Benning found himself in an im­
I wrote him, they get in this life; love means
cause there are big events shaping undergone a transition. They had scared and blank.
mense chamber whose rich furnish­
up Tell me in your own way, Brom- shoe* on their feet and discipline in tried to resume the old easy tone, more to them than it does to men.
ings ran a riot of vivid colors His
litx. what you think of the Ameri­ their ranks and were used largely but I felt that I failed. After some and married life offers them induce­
eyes centered in some perplexity
as labor troops. Except for patrols days he did come to dinner, but he
can army's fighting capacity."
ments that it doesn't hold for their
upon the solitary figure in the room,
Benning pondered briefly and de­ and a daily ^uard-mounting there brought his young office associate mates. Children cost mother* in­
a man sprawled in a deep crimson
was
no
daily
martial
display
in
the
with him. making the meal a three­ finitely more than they do fathers;
cided upon the full and unequivocal
leather chair placed at one side of
some that was an utter loss to me. they have a higher value to their
truth which, after all. could only con­ city.
an immense blackwood desk
Ruiz, holding the military rank of
"I made a luncheon engagement mother*. But of all things for which
firm what Van Hassek must already
Was this Van Hassek? The re­ know.
colonel-general, was an imposing with him. knowing that something
women pay an incomplete love-affair
cumbent man's figure was lost in
"If you mean the American readi­ figure, erect, lean, dashing. His uni­ must be very wrong, and determined is the most expensive: Anne i* going
shapeless folds of fat. His wide,
ness for a sudden war. that is noth­ form was always vivid and he was to be quite frank with him and ask to need real philosophy in the next
squarish head was as bald as a bil­
ing short of pitiable, sir The United forever attended by flashily uni­ him what had happened to break up few month*.
liard ball, his face was a network of
However, on the
State* land forces are scattered in formed aides and orderlies. Ben­ our friendsh p.
To »top fooling herself is perhap*
wrinkles, thick jowls cascaded from
(mall garrisons, are not properly ning thought Ruiz must have been morning of our luncheon he tele­ the shortest cut to peace. The soon­
jaw and chin. Moreover, he ap­
picked for appearance a* well as phoned the office to say that he could
er she does that, and poor little Six­
peared wholly inanimate, a listless
his susceptibility to control, in order not keep the engagement, but would
teen does that the happier they will
gaze fixed in some strange detach­
to
put
on
a
show
that
would
catch
get in touch with me soon.' He has be.
NEXT
WEEK
I
ment on the beautifully frescoed
and hold the Mexican imagination
ceiling.
»TO BE CONT INI ED J
CHAPTER II— Continued.
T
10th A S. E. Hawthorne.
Portland. Ora.
USED TRACTORS
-Caterpillar" 35 Diesel and dozer
"Caterpillar" 50 Diesel and dozer
International TD-40 Tractor
A.
Model "SO" and Carco dozer
HOFIUS rEBBIS EQUIPMENT CO.
Spokane, Wash.
W728 Mallon Ave.
WANTED
5 girls to work In Portland Beauty
School for part payment on tuition.
Write for particulars. Only Sth grad*
education necessary.
PORTLAND BEAUTY ACADEMY
420 S. W. Washington
Portland, Or*.
WANT A REAL JOB?
Airplane factories, shipyards and hun­
dreds of Industries are tn need of
sheet metal workers. Write for free
booklet. Dept. 2. Adcox Trade School.
237 N. E. Broadway, Portland, Ora.
The Front Pages: An Italian news­
paper recently claimed that Paul
Revere was an Italian. The editor
probably figures that anyone who
goes around frantically screaming,
‘‘The British are coming” must have
come from Italy . . . The no foreign
war group has endorsed Lindbergh
because they believe he is a great
lover of peace. Perhaps they didn't
see the magazine article Lindbergh
wrote, in which he urged that we go
to war against the Asiatics ... In­
cidentally» that bunch has expressed
high regard for two people who are
proud of getting medals from Hitler
. . . Any other questions? . . .
Add coincidences: The same week
Hitler warned us against further aid
to Britain, a group of anti-aid to
Britain organizations sprang into
prominence . . . The Overseas Press
Club forced the resignation of
George Sylvester Viereck, it was
explained, because he fetched Bund-
ists and Gestapolecats to meetings.
The other members, perhaps, were
afraid of being judged by the com­
pany they kept.
; middle - agen
WOMEN [,S]
HEED THIS ADVICEII
Thousands of women
are helped to go *mll-
ing thru distress pecul­
iar to women—caused
by this period in life—
with Lydia E. Pink­
ham's Vegetable Com­
pound— famous for
over 60 years. Pinkham's Compound
—made especially /or women— has
helped thousands to relieve such
weak, nervous feelings due to this
^unctlona^dlsturbance^n^t^^.
Our Merit
There is scarce any man who
cannot persuade himself of his
own merit. Has he common sense,
he prefers it to genius; has he
some diminutive virtues, he pre­
fers them to great talents.—Sew-
all.
INTESTINAL GAS PAINS
“Adlerika quickly relieved me of gas
pains in the intestine*.” (C. B.-Ohio)
Gas pains due to delayed bowel ac­
tion relieved thru QUICK results
from ADLERIKA. Get it TODAY.
AT YOUR DRUG STORE
Calm in Danger
True courage is cool and calm.
The bravest men have the least
bullying insolence, and in the time
of danger are found the most se­
rene and free.—Shaftesbury.
COLDS
tyUckfy 44,
LIQUID
tablets
SALVE
NOSE DROPS
COUGH ORO PS
Ttf di oß
ADVERTISING
• ADVERTISING
represents the leadership of
a nation. It points the way.
We merely follow—follow to
new heights of comfort, of
convenience, of happiness.
As time goes on advertis­
ing is used more and more,
and as it is used more we
all profit more. It's the way
advertising has —
of bringing a profit to
everybody concerned,
the consumer included