Modern Screen (Jan-Jun 1946)

"I'm shipping out," Harry said. "You knew that, didn't you? I'm a sailor — " "I thought — " "Wait a minute," Harry said. "Let's get it straight. You thought I'd quit my ship because I'm married? Give up the one thing that means anything to me, to putter around a garden on shore? Me? Stuck on land for the rest of my life — " "No, Harry," Emily almost whispered, "I wouldn't want you to do anything you didn't want to do — " "That's settled," Harry said, grinning. "What do you say we go out and celebrate?" So the ride was over. She realized it dully later when they were alone. She could hear Harry in the other room, humming in that queer, off-key voice of his. She couldn't blame Harry. He was what he was. He never pretended to be anything else. Whose fault was it if she thought a marriage license and a wedding band would suddenly change him like the pumpkin after it was struck by the magic wand? She walked slowly toward the door of the other room. Play it light, she kept telling herself; play it with a laugh. So when she came to the door she almost believed it herself. He looked up at her, grinning, and she grinned right back. "Sailor," she said, "the big shore leave's over. It's been nice knowing you and you're a great guy. We got married fast. Let's do the rest of it fast. I want a divorce, Harry. . . ." The Pacific Belle was rolling down to Chile. She took the great Pacific swells, wallowing and rising like a waddling duck on the water. On deck Harry Patterson stood at the rail looking down at the oily swells sweeping past the dark, rust-covered hull. At his side Mudgin shivered a little and looked up at the sky. "They never know what they want . ." Harry said. "I take it you're talkin' of women," Mudgin said. "Yeah." "She's too good for you, Harry." Harry swung around sharply: "Too good for me? On again, off again. What did she think it was?" "What did you think it was, Harry?" "I married her," Harry said harshly. "And what did it mean to you? What were you willin' to give up? What single thing were you willin' to do for her?" "She knew what I was." "Sure," Mudgin said. "Which is why I'm savin' she was too good for you. She walked out on ye, and that was the smartest thing she could've done. For you'd have broken her heart — " "Shut up!" Harry said. "Why? Are ye afraid of the truth?" "I said shut up! You're talking to the Bos'n." Mudgin said slowly: "I'll shut up for the bos'n, if it's an order — " He started to turn slowly: "But there's no power in the world can keep me from tellin' my friend what's in my mind." "Get off the deck!" Harry said. He went. Mudgin went. And that was the last time they spoke together until the night off the small Chilean port when Mudgin missed his footing in the dark and they saw his body teeter across the open cargo hold and hold for a minute against the sky and then fall away into blackness. They brought him back up on deck but even then they knew it was too late. They stretched him out gently under the Chilean sky and they saw a strange thing then. Out of the star-filled sky, a single star came whipping down in a shower of light. And on deck, Mudgin's eyes widened and his face grew suddenly eager and his hand reached upward almost as if he were catching the star. Here's the way to take this thrilling 1-Cream Beauty Treatment Helps Erase Those "Worry Lines" Devote a few quick minutes every day to smooth-skin treatments with new Jergens Face Cream. Simply use this versatile cream as though it were 4 creams : 1. for Make-up Removal; strict Cleansing 2. for Softening 3. for a charming Foundation 4. as a Night Cream— doesn't tolerate dry skin ; helps against dry-skin lines Nice to know: Jergens Face Cream is made by the skin scientists who make Jergens Lotion. Be delighted— like girls everywhere— with the easy skin care of Jergens Face Cream. 10^ to $1.25 (plus tax). Give this new 1-Cream Treatment an honest 10-day trial. JERGENS FACE CREAM Does the work of -4 creams for Smooth, Kissable Skin