A?T
CHAPTER I
Thi>y were hurry inn this morn
I ing, those of them who were
r snatching' their twenty - four
" hours’ leave. It didn’t come very
often—oiilv once in every four
teen days. That was why they
had to make the most of it. They
thought, than many of the girls
-girls who had enlisted for spe
cial duties in the most interest
in the W auls. They were plotters
worked hard—harder, they often
in",branch of tin* service whore
they were right in the thick of
it all. In tin* Operations room;
they needed to use their brains,
and needed to have plenty to
use. too.
Cherry I'vccfol't had pleat v.
She was quick as lightning, small
with dark hair and bine eyes, vi
tal, alive full ef restless energy.
She was breaking her neck now
to catch the one-thirty to town
instead of hitch-hiking with the
others. This was a grand and a
most economical way of getting
to the city, and a girt in uniform
could always get tt lift.
Hut today Cherry wasn’t trust
ing to any chance way of getting
to London. Denise expected her
rt the apartment as soon as she
arrived. And it hud been a long
time Since she’d seen or heard
any news of Simon, Denise’s
husband. Simon had gone to
America with the war purchas
ing commission hut Denise had
said in her last letter: “Simon
will be back any day now. It
seems ouite incredible to think
he’s been gone nearly six months.
The time has simply flown. Tint I
suppose that's because I’ve been
enioving myself.
( berry, giving liei- uniform a
quick, hard brush, wondered anx
iously just how well Denise had
enjoyed herself She wished she
had kept in closer touch with her
though it wasn’t easy now that
she was working so hard. When
Simon had left she had consen
ted willingly to stay at the apart
ment with Denise, who firmly re
fused to follow Simon’s wishes
that she live outside London
while he was gone. Then (he un
expected had happened. Madame
Hayden. Cherry’s Loss, hail sud
denly closed her simp. She hated
sacking Cherry hut there was
nothing else to do.
Cherry had said that night to
Denise, "I don’t feel like taking
another civilian job. 'Denise. I’nt
awfully tempted to join one of
the women's services. The Wirnfs
ni“ advertising for girls for ‘spec
ial duties.’ If it wouldn’t mean
letting you down . ’ ’
Denise had answered that, it
Cherry felt that way. of course
she must do her duty to hot king
and country Shed be perfectly
all tight. Only the other day
Sandy Diake, a ft iend, had said
how mile1, she would like to share
the aptutinetlt with hot. -
"But what about Simon. d:.r
ling Chet tv had objected. "I
said I'd look after you for him."
Denise had laughed lightly al
this and added, a i t itle truth ,
that she was perfectly capable
of looking after herself. “You go
and he a Waal, my pet; You'll
look positively .tunning in that
Air Foret* blue uniform."
Which hadn't---though Cherry
had never been at le to make De
nise believe it— had anything to
do with her reason for joining
the service. It was true she felt
a till ill of sat is fa el ion the first
day shc’tl seen herself in uniform
But that was trivia! What conn
ted was her deep inner satisfac
tion. Right from the outbreak of
war she had hot n..dissatisfied with
her civilian job. She was young
— twenty three her next 1 irthdny
—strong - -without responsibilities
It was only right that sip* should
he doing her bit. So she had left
Denise’s comfortable Mat to begin
a fortnight's direiplinnn training
rf a hie tamp ipst outside Lon
don Life had suddenly become
so different! With Denhv she h**d
enjoyed every comfort. At 1 lit
Sometimes she wished she hail
waited and joined up in the sum
mer. Getting ut' at six o’clock on a
taw winter’s moniinir. light in,v
tin s conning the hut ill which
s’ 'cut with ;■ dpf.eif other girls
d ‘eo e,,jn... OM i-oute marches.
' ■ ,,nnnlntahle food from •
I.H ■ ne'er, it would seem.
' rest- :,'ll his certnin
! 1 'o o111 the toughness ip a
r v ’ 'I'i’i’ness ('he) rv tievei
had believed she possessed. It
had done her "mid 1 uter sh<>
bee11 nested to an airdrome well
drilled in 1 hi* fart that all offi
rer’s word wav l:lw nn.| im Waal'
c er answered back
She fed now as if she bad
been in service i’ll her life. She
was finite at home on the station
used to answering to her surname
and nophlar among the other
Waal's And. most impoitant.
she no longer thought quite so
often of. Simon.
Lii■ how difficult it had lieen!
Traveling to town. Cherry went
hark over tin* last three vents,
remembering the first time she
had seen him. She had been
walking across Hampstead Heath
on iv warm Sunday in Soring.
She had tripped and hurt her
tinkle and he’d taken her home
in n taxi. When lie had said trood
hve In- had said. “Couldn't we
meet attain sometime."
For Cherrv that had been the
beginning. There was something
about him, the way tie looked and
spoke, that she had been unable
to nut into words even to her
self. But her heart turned over
"No, AuUn(, I meu I’m going to ivgld meeting him/'
aiid her pulses uuickeneil when
ever he wiis near her, and she
had known - almost vvith a sense
ol’ foreboding, which she was to
learn later had certainly been
justified that there eoulii never
lie any other man for her.
At the time she tend Denise
had been sharing- an apartment.
Denise had been a much sought
after photographer’s model Her
lovely face smiled ut you from
billboards. From magazine ad
vertisements and newspapers too
Denise had been away wren
Cherry had met Simon. When
she returned Cherry said, “I’ve
met rather a nice man while you
’ve been out of town. He’s com
ing around this evening His
ramie's Simon I.indon.”
“'Shall I like him?” Denise had
“I’m sure you will. N'o one
could help it.”
Denise had liked him so
much that within six weeks she
had mat l ied him. From the very
first moment they had met Cher
ry had known it was going to
happen Slie hadn't blamed ue
nise. It wasn’t her tault. that
she was -o beautiful that every
man who met her fell in love
uith her. It wasn't as if she.
Cherry, had even given her a
hint as to how she herself felt
about Simon. If she'd said. Per
haps, before they mot, “Please,
darling, even if vou do 1 ik• him,
leave him for me. After all. 1
found him first. You have so
many other men And, you see,
I've fallen ill love with him.”
If she laid only said something
like this, then everything would
have teiui different. And yet
,Nn, she really didn’t think so,
because Denise would still no
doubt have wanted Simon ami
Denise always got wha. she wan
ted. .Co Cherry had said nothing
jlisi, taken herself in hand and
shut her Inurt against linn. What
else could she do without letting
Mcnisc know now much she loved
him. lb i omy prayer had In ert
that the other gill would make
him happy.
■flurrying fmm the station to
the l.indoh's apartment, Cherry
hoped tiial Denise would make
Simon’s return a welcome one
after their six months separat
lion. She must surely be longing
in see bill! again.
Cmuue. Denises maid, open
ed ihc dooi to her "Madams in
her mom. Miss Cherry."
Dciusc' voice limited across
the ball. “That you, Cherry—
come on in I was hoping you
would tie here soon. There are
one or two tilings 1 want you to
do for me."
Cherry was amazed at the con
fusion in Denise’s charming ntd
roinii. "Packing” she asked stu
unity.
"Vos." lionise bent her bend
low over u drawer and thing out
a boap of silk undies.
“What’s happening" asked
(’hoi ry.
“I’m going away." And turning
she looked lull at Cherry, an od
dly defiant expression in her eyes
"I’ve had a cable from Simon,
from Lisbon He’s arriving this
evening.”
uui . .” Cherry made u lit
tle gesture. “You mean you’re
going to mget him—”
“No, darling, I mean I'm go
ing to avoid meeting him ”
"Demise, you can’t mean that”
Demise gave an odd little laugh
"Oh, yes, 1 can And since you
may as well know the worst, I’m
not going alone.”
“Not going alone—” Cherry
cried faintly.
"That's what 1 said,” snapped
Denise, turning to slam down a
suitcase.
Cherry told herself it could
n't he true It mustn't lie true
Menise laughed lightly. “Dar
ling, I wish you wouldn’t stand
there looking so horribly disup
proving.”
Cherry snid passionately, “Dis
approving! Hut, Denise, 1 .just
can’t believe it!“
Vos. though Denise mentioned
no names, Cherry felt convinced
it was Jerry Miller She* wanted
to take Denise by the shoulders
and shake her or else lock her up
until she came to her senses. She
said . (utterly, "It will break Si
men's heart to come back here
and find you’ve gone. 1 still some
how can’t believe that you’re
really serious.”
Denise fastened one of her
bags and straightened 1 her slim
back She gav’e a brittle little
laugh "Don’t be idiotic, Cherry
Hearts don’t break. Simon will
ret over it.” Then her curious
ureen eyes with their thick dark
curling lashes narrowing' as they
met Cherry's honest blue ones,
"Perhaps, my pot, this is where
at long hist you'ie going to he
lucky.'•
So Demise knew. Cherry's
creeks flamed. As she said in a
little rush, ‘ISince you've brought
that out into the open, Pm not
going to deny it Pve always be
lieved you didn't know. But it
doesn't matter. You must rea
lize that 1 don't count with Si
mon. I never have It won't make
any difference because Simon
will nev'er love any other woman.
Some men nre unfortunately
made that way. Some women too.
Only 1 suppose you're too shal
low and worthless to understand
it. Or, Denise . .“ Her voice
changed. Anger and bitterness
subsided, '["here was only an ur
gent pleading and a heartbreak
ing ring of sincerity “Denise. I
didn't mean to say harsh things
to you. It's just tiiat Pm so un
happy for Simon Darling, he
loves vou so terribly "
”* Voii re just being foolishly
sentimental, cherry,' said Denise
practically. Src gave a little tol
erant superior smite “liut you
anwus were. Weren't you— I've
oiten saul you re ttie most senti
mental girl j know. 'You can t
get it out of your head that all
men and women non t many and
hv'e happily ever alter. Pel's not
argue any mole I've got fifty
II.mgs to <to before 1 get away
l m taking the three-thirty to
l,i 1st o J and whatever happens 1
don t want to miss it 1 hoped per
haps you’d lie an angel and help
me in are yon by any chance
going in stand sentry over that
door and refuse to let me leave
me aimrtmelit
Cherry said heatedly. “I’d
very much like to."
lh-nise laughed. "Oh, darling,
don't lie so ridiculous. Cherry,
listen—this wws bound to happen
Minion and I just aren’t made to
inn in double harness. It's far
better for one of us to realize it
and make the break. To be per
lectly flank. I've been sick oi
Minion for some lime. He’s so
darned dull ”
"Denise!” It wits a cry of re
proach wrung 11 mu Cherry’s ver>
heart
"He is t berry, my pet ’’
"Oh, Denise, how cun you!"
“Easily, darling. Or, doubtless
Minion is attractive enough to
some women, yourself tor instance
blit 1 tind him horribly, boring
ly dull.’
“.-vnd this other man—I take
it it's Jerry Miller."
Denise turned and looked at
her. "Who said H was Jerry Mil
ler--"
vnmy utougnt, sues trying to
I'lit me oil', lint site's not suc
11'filing. It was Jerry Millet, she
was certain She’d seen Denise’s
whole face had come alive the
night he’d called l'or her. If-on
ly Simon were not involved, his
happiness not at stake! She said
dully, “Ate you leaving some
word for Simon—”
Denise apparently hadn’t
thought of this “Ought 1 to—
the conventional note mopped up
on the mantelpiece. Or should it
he stuck on met pincushion on
my dressing table I’ve nev'er left
a husband before. I’m not ctuite
so sure of the procedure Xo, I
don't think so. You're here dar
ling. You’ve got twenty four
hours’ leave, haven't you. Stay on
and greet him with the had news
Or is that asking Loo much of
,\ on—”
Crerry drew a deep breathon
Cherry drew a swift breath
U’s asking the impossible.’’
(To lie Continued)
GRAtDE A MILK NEEDED
Studies by the State College Ex
tension Service and the milk di
vision of the State Department
of Health show that if 2.80!)
X'oilh Carolina farmers, with 5
cow herds, will change over from
the production of ungraded milk
to Grade A jnilk, the shortage
of tirade A ntilk in North Caroli
na can he corrected John A.
Any. Extension dairyman at
State’ College, reports that there
is i.tt average difference of 10c
nr gallon in favor of Grade A
milk. Banks, a number of other
leading agencies, and some dairy
plants will help farmers finance
the necessary barn improve
ments for the production of
Grade A milk4
BIG MOVEMENTS
OF TROOPS TAX .
RAIL FACILITIES
Bus Traffic Increases By
44.1 Per Cent.
It soldiete, sailors and other
travelers are' crowded into the
aisles ol" America’s trains and
buses, it’s because approximately
one out of four trips is unneces
sary.
But troop movements and
travel necessary to the war have
been sufficient to keep the ooun
ury’s norma! transportation fa
cilities operating at peak capaci
ty alone on virtually the old
equipment, but with non-essential
> ravel’ added, the system has been
heavily burdened. Even greater
increases are forecast for ltl-H,
however.
Reviewing the transporta
tion system’s record achieve
ments for 1913, the Office of
War Information revealed:
(1) Solid troop rail.transport
(trains carrying , only troops)
within continental United States
increased about Bo per cent in
1913 over 1942.
(2) About 85 billion passen
ger-miles were rolled up by U.S.
railroads in 19-13 as compared
with 54 billion passent-ei miles
in 1912 and 29 billion passenger
miles in 19-11. This figure inclu
des both solid-troop transport
and individual military and civi
lian travel, Joseph 1!. Eastman,
niiector of the Office of War
Transportation. predcits that in
i 14 will see a still further in
ciease in total military and civili
an passenger mileage- of . about
15 per cent ov'er 19 13.
(3,) Inter-city motor passen
ger carriers (buses) totaled ap
proximately 31 billion passengei
miles in 1943 us compared with
23 billion passenger miles in 1942
The 1943 increase over 1942
is estimated at 4-1.1 per cent of
passengers carried and 33.5 per
cent of passenger miles and rev
enue. The 31 billion passenger
miles rolled up in 1913 included
inductees transported to induc
tion centers, members ol the mil
itary traveling under individual
orders and on furlough, and ci
vilian travelers.
(1) 1 ho Air Iranspoi t Asso- *
edition of America estimates that-!
in 1 94.2 1 ,500,000,000 passenger'
miles were flown by domestic air
lines. This lieurc compares with
1. -J S 1. ft T <>. *4 ii! > passenger miles
for 1942 and with 1.49(5,724.CIJ1
for 194.1. On the outbreak of wai
tlie government requisitioned al -
most 50 pel cent of the commer
cial airlines’ :J50 planes and in
stituted what is the only priority
system obtaining on any form of
I . S. transportation. Military
personnel and civilians on will
missions have first choice of res
ervations. Whatever space re
mains within the safety range of
eight of vehicle, freight, pas
sengers. and fuel, is available tc
travelers on ordinal v business.
(.5)- Despite steadily increasing
civilian, business and individual
military passenger travel, practi
cally no new passenger carrying
equipment is being manufactur
ed and equipment in use is rap
idly wearing out. In addition the
manpower shortage continues,
;-nd terminal and set vicing facili
■ ie- are limited. ltuilio.ids arc
landling today’s vastly increasec
ratfie with actually one-fourth
'ewer cars, one-third fewer lo
. -omotiv'es and nearly one-third
'ewer employees than they had
n the last war.
Passenger travel ts now ap
proaching twice what it. was a
year ago, and is over lour timet
wimt it was before the war began
to carry this staggering load,
r.’.'ilroads ami buses have about
the same equipment they had be
fore the war. Other war needt
make it impossible to get more.
Today's soldier travels twice
as milch as be did in 19 IS, aver
aging seven moves from camp
to embarkation point, or over
soo miles for every soldier foi
at least five of the seven moves
within the continental United
Slates. Two million men ant.
women who travel each month
under military orders tu-lce more
-than half the sleeping ears and
about one-third of all the coach
es. Another estimated 2.000,000
servicemen and women travel on
furlough, plus additional millions
of civilians traveling on essen
tial war work.
Soldiers’ Kin Travel
A serious and difficult problem
is the one of traveling “(II"
wives, children and babies,
Brides want to spend some time
with their husbands before their
depatturo overseas or transfer
to another station: young mothers
want to give soldier fathers a
few days’ acquaintance with
their offspring', or want to settle
‘ down near their husbands in
camp. Fathers and mothers want
to visit their sons in service.Such
travelers are not likely to be
liiv'o any tales of travel hard
ships which their kinsmen in the
service tell them; and they often
undergo incredible difficulties
for a farewell glimpse of a man
in uniform.
Convert Car*
“The carriers have more thun
justified the confidence reposed
in them by army men,” said Ma
. jor General C. P, Gross, chief
of army transportation cirps,
j “There could be no navy
without transportation to mov’e
the tremendous (|iiantitics of
men and materials required to
build, equip, supply and man our
i shiiis,” said Rear Admiral Wil- [
liani H. Young. chief of the Bu
reau of Supplies and Accounts, i
U. S. Navy. j
The military, cooperating j
with the railroads, had developed j
last fall about 1,200 troop sleep- j
* Have you
BOUGHT VOUR
^bonos rrqTTH
•(M TA*MFK ^ A*'/r Mftrr p«-io'
ers and 4(H) mass or kitchen cars.
They ale of a special design
being built with nmiviiul alio
cateil by the War Production
Board in cooperation with the
Defense Plant corporation. They
will accommodate HO men in HO
single berths built in three tier;,
will have ample washroom and
toilet facilities and will be eriuip
ped so that they can be handled
ill high speed trains. They will in
crease the sleeping eat accommo
dations capacity for troops by
about 40 per cent ami after the
war will he convertible to freight
National intercity bus lines
have adopted cooperative meth
ods that have effected valuable
-savings in passenger miles. Sov
enty-twi) Inis carriers have re
ported effecting operating chan
ges by curtailment of seasonal
schedules, elimination of less es
sential schedules, and cancella
tion of schedules showing less
than a 40 per cent load factor.
These monthly savings amount to
l(80f),2d2 scheduled Ims miles.
In addition. 77 intercity bu- cur
riers through joint action plans
presented by the Office of De
fense TraTisporlat ion have elici
ted savings in cbordinating tlicit
servile*, staggerin'-; and curtail
inp- resreetiv'e runs, to an osti
c ferl monthly in scheduled bus
tiles of 1,101,750. Tire mileage
figured mi the basis, of sis tires
to a bos) s:,\’c*< 1 amounted to
20P :i04s04. Inter city bus car
riers have also in a number of
e-ses experimented ticeessfullv
with various methods of lining
ut) servicemen and women and
letting then! on buses ahead of
Twenty-live million meals a
year are served oh railroad din
ing cars in a peacetime vear'
-ll.OOO.OOO were -r-rved in lfl{.».
and aO.OOOglOO - estimated were
served in 10-1-1. One huge western
line is serving three times os
many 'meats a- it used to serve
Carriers are also enjoying 11'ei■
larges' «r.os« revenre in yetu
aecording to tigiVres released by
the Interstate Co mmerce lorn
mission and the Civilian Aem
nullities Board.
Others tyay Look Like It Outside,
,m] * Others May Have a Similar Name,
Out:there is only ONE Genuine
UlHBiriimoHninG heater
Pal. N«. 2255527 Nam.
S. and Canadian Pot. Off.y'
0 Somi-automatic, magazino
f««d.
• Holds 100 lb*, coal.
0 Burns any kind of coat, coko
or briquots.
0 NO CLINKERS.
0 You nood start • fir# bat
one* a yoar.
0 Assuros a substantial fust
0 Roquiros loss attention than
most furnacot.
0 Hoots all day and night
without rofuolir^
Amazing Patented, Interior CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
For remarkable beating efficiency end fuel saving, look for the
name WARM MORNING before you buy. Be sure it's swelled
W A R M MO-R-NI N-G. 1 lundreds of thousands giving astound
ing reo.ts to users throughout the Nation. You'll find the W ARM
MORNING gives an abundance of dean, healthful hear when And
where you want it.
llie WARM MORNING fits right in with our country's con.
■creation plans... does a big heating job on a minimum amount or
coal See the many amaaing features of the WARM MORNING
Coal Heater
See the waitIH MORNING Today l
Chcrryville Ice & Fuel Co.
Quality Service Appreciation
PHONE 3231
Ids l he Quality of leadership
STATEMENT Of ('ONDITION
Cherryvillc Building & Loan Association
OF CHERRYVII.1 E. N. C .. AS OF DECEMCER 31, 1943
(Copy A»f Sworn StiitniH-nl S.iLiiiit Irtl to liourain e
A S S E T S
C(tmmistioiif)- at Required by
in llu-ii home . Loch Umn myihciI
II If.i ill llllfl! et i'll, i «*ul estate.
THE association o\\ ns
Cash on hand ami in Ranh
l\ S. government Ronds
Alot 1 jfii ge l.Oans
Miiiicv loaned in sh.uichohlri 1 <.i lln' purpi
ctinldiHg them t
by tii-i mnitg.n
Shui e I.onu,
A (I v aliens made to
shales. No loan e\
Accounts Roeei'vahh
Tcnipoi at y adv';, mi
Office Furniture and Fixtii: (•••
Other Assets, lntetest and llolld I»1 v. idem)s uncollected
Till U.
M2,3-id.00
.15,000.00
220.025.00
ti - hale!: o| ile. i ■ against their
•d po per relit of amount actually paid in
:il 70
Taxes. Etc
TOO.00
1,186.43
$320,041 .M2
LIABILITIES
'['UK ASSOCIATION OW I
To Sharehoidet>
Funds entrust ed to
as follows:
Installment Shales
1 nil Paid Shat e
Prepaid Shares
Itlinnill" Shares'
Other Shares
Monet hoi
m the I’nrni ol payments on shares
(I lor
> 1 0'.i.a 7 2.5(i
'.iii. I 00,00
maK mg loans to memliers
Knelt note approved by at
05.072.50
least two thirds .-l entire Hoard of Direelors as
required h\ k,W ' Nolle
Aci omits Payable None
l ndi t ided I'roiil >
Earnings held in'li ii-: f,u di>ti ihulion to share
iioiders at mat in it;, of their shares,
Reserve for t'onl iiu'eneie
To he Used Ini the payment of any losses, if sustained
J7.511.24
0.720.50
tl,
I'fet v and strength of
dp
1 Ills 1
tin- A
Other I ialii'i! i.e uiii i.e, t ,
TOT A t.
STATE OF NORTH ( A Roll N A.
COCNTY OF C.AiSToN.
Cl AI T . ( REA \1. Se
lion prvsoliallt appeared before me
foieg-uing statement is true to the he t of his Knowledge and belief
tl.M'DF. C. REAM.
Sect etat y Tteasuior
Sworn to and subset ihed befoto me. this
12th duv of .Intmnry, ltd I.
CREOl.A HOFSKR,
Notaiv Public
737.5ft
$320,041 82
bn.' I 'ensue or of the above named Asaocla
i day. and being duly sworn, say* that the
Alt' (, oinmission Expires .laitua'vy 18 1045