Radio Mirror: The Magazine of Radio Romances (Jan-June 1943)

guard boat sunk," she said. "They've brought in survivors. I must hurry." Her tone was quiet. It took an instant for the meaning to come through to me. A coast guard boat sunk. But Bill was on one of — Bill! Then I knew what terror was — stark, incredible, icy. I looked at her, my lips moving to form the question without voice behind them. She nodded. "Yes, Judy. Bill." "Bill!" My voice, when it finally came, was a hoarse, shaken whisper. "Is he— do they—" "They don't know. He — he isn't conscious yet." I could feel the little muscles around my mouth begin to twitch and jerk. My hands were wet and cold, and automatically I smoothed them down my thighs. He wasn't conscious yet. That might mean — anything! I HADN'T ever thought that any* thing could happen to Bill. It wasn't that I'd tried not to think of it — it just simply had never occurred to me. To other people, yes — but not to Bill. Bill was strong and sure of himself. He was so alive ... so warm . . . it couldn't happen. But it had happened. I could see him, lying white and broken in an antiseptic-smelling, impersonal hospital room. Suddenly I wanted more than anything in the world to give him my hand to hold. And he didn't want to see me. He never wanted to see me again. I was part of his past. The dead past, the past he must want to forget. Aunt Myra slipped past me in the doorway and started downstairs. "Good luck to you," she called back over her shoulder. "I — I can't see you off, Judy, dear. Is there anything — ?" Swiftly I turned, ran down the stairs. The telegram from Bob Halsey was on the hall table. In a short time, less than an hour, my train would be leaving. I stood still for a second, staring at that yellow slip of paper which was my future. And suddenly I knew that there was no future for me, no world at all worth living in if — if anything happened to Bill. I knew I couldn't go. Aunt Myra flung her cape over her shoulders, crossed the little hall to kiss me. "Goodbye, dear. I — " "Wait," I cried. "Wait, Aunt Myra — I'm going with you!" Pleasure and pain battled in her eyes. "But your job? You — " "I don't care about that," I told her. "Oh, I know Bill doesn't want to see me— doesn't care if he never sees me again. But it doesn't matter. I can't leave — I can't go away — not with him lying there, not until I know — " Aunt Myra had snatched my coat out of the closet. There was no time to waste words. "Come on, then," she said, briefly. We didn't talk in the taxi. Aunt Myra's face was anxious. She had a job to do — injuries to care for, suffering to alleviate. She wanted to be there, to do hej: part. When we reached the hospital she hurried to her office, leaving me to wait in the visitor's room for whatever news she might be able to send me. I tried to be calm, to hold my nerves in check. Outside the room, nurses were hurrying about their tasks. Young women in starched white, efficient, certain. 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In supplying this timely information TRUE STORY feels that it is being of service both to its readers and to our Government by avoiding in advance the troublesome and confusing errors that otherwise may occur. ■ If you or any member of your family are among the great army of Americans who, on March 15, 1943, will face the problems of income tax procedure vou will find "Income Tax Advice for the Wage Earner" of inestimable value. TRUE STORY for March is now on sale. Step up to your newsstand and say, "A copy of TRUE STORY please" and your newsdealer will gladly give it to you and your income tax problem will be simplified for you. OUT NOW IMeSHMy io IN CANADA 75c 95