FRONT-LINE^
| NURSE
WILLIAM STARRET
A
CHAPTER I
It was easy to speak now—al
most too easy. But the first time
she had stepped forward on the
stage, facing a sea of upturned
faces, Laura Blake had been more
terrible than in any encounter
with the dangers of the battle
front.
It had seemed to her, that first
time she spoke to the senior girls
of a high school, that those up
turned faces showed nothing but
defiance. “Just try to make us
interested in what you‘re going
to say’’—that was the challenge
she felt. But Laura had soon
learned that only her foolish stage
fright had created such an idea.
She knew, after her first few
speeches, that anyone in the uni
form of a U. iS. Army nurse, es
pecially one who had nursed
American soldiers in the jungles
of New Guinea, could thrill the
high school girls of the country.
They listened eagerly to every
word she said. They crowded for
ward after each talk, to ask lor
more details about joining the
Army Nurse Corps.
Anyway, her speaking tour had
been a great success, and her su
perior officers were pleased. When
they found that enlistments in the
Nurse Cadets jumped after her
appearances, they gave her more
and more engagements to fill.
Naturally Laura was delighted
and felt she was doing an impor
tant job.
But now she had been home
from the war for three month*.
She had left the Southwest Paci
fic with mixed feelings—rhappiness
at getting away from the jungles
and heat, but at the some lime
sorrow at leaving her friends
among the doctors and nurses
and above all, Jerry Donaldson,
the bomber pilot to whom she was
engaged.
At least once a week lately, she
had been asking for a transfer ot
daty. Her superior officers had al
ways turned down her requests.
They understood, they said, just
how she felt, but she was one ot
the best speakers they'd ever sent
out, and she was to be kept on the
job where she could do the most
it was not that sue naan t en
joyed being back in the United
States. It had been wonderlul to
sleep in real beds, and to sleep as ,
long as she liked. During the first i
few weeks, before she had been j
assigned to her speaking job, she |
had been on leave. She had indul
ged all those silly whims she d
been dreaming about for months
in the jungles— movies, a mani
cure, window shopping on fifth
Avenue during her stay in .New
York.
Hut none of that had lasted
very long. And not even her visit
with her family in her home town
Bugton, hud been all that she nad
hoped.
Then had come her instructions
to go on a recruiting tour, and she
had been elated.
Hut now— well, she had hail |
enough. Now she wanted to go.
back to New Guinea, to Australia
Her Jeiry was in the sky there,
Blasting the enemy with bomos.
She wanted to be there, too!
However, she had been turned
down so many times that she had
almost given up hope. Now she
was ending the swing of fourteen
cities that had carried her to
.Richmond, Virginia. Here she ex
pected another itinerary.
When her talk was over she
went back to her hotel. Yes, there
was mail waiting. She stopped in
the lobby and tore open the en
velope. It was not an itinerary at
all. Just a short order telling her
to report in Washington for fur
ther instructions.
She dashed upstairs and packed
her bags quickly, then called to
ask about the next train to Wash
ington. There was one in half an
hour, and she made it.
Laura fought her way through |
the hustling crowds at Union sta
tion and tried to get near the
tax- stand. After edging forward
for ten minutes, she began to
think that walking would oe uie
best idea, even though it was a
long hike to headquarters.
“Pretty tough goin’, isn't it
ma’ani?” said a man’s voice next
to her—a voice with a distinct
Southern accent.
She looked up at a tall Army
officers on the way up to his face
her eyes rested for a second on
the colonel’s eagles on his shoul
do>s and the pilot’s wing,, on his
left breast. She expected, after1
the eagles, at least a middle-aged i
man, but the smiling face above
her was that of a boy—-or not
mucr. more than a boy.
“I’d rather be back in New j
Guinea than buck this crowd!''I
Laura answered.
“New Guinea, eh?’’ the colonel
exclaimed. “I was in China my
self.”
"Were you a Flying Tiger?’’
Laura asked.
“I was that as long as they las
ted, and then I went into the Ar
my Air Forces. I was out there in
China until the Japs put a coupla
slugs in my leg. The doc didn’t
like my limp after the slugs were
dug out, so he sent me back
“Did you just get back?” • (
“No, I’ve been back for four ,
months now . . . Hey, there, we i
were before you, sir!”
The young colonel had broken -
off to speak pleasantly but firmly
to » won who was trying to crowd e
into » t<ui wfewfi <lr|vw «u
ing, “Pentagon! Pentagon Build
ing!’’
Laura felt herself propelled in
to the taxi to join three men al
ready sittinig there. The colonel
got in behind her and cried, “Take
oil', liver!’’ ant the cab jerked
away from the curb.
As the cal) pulled away from
the station, the young colonel
said, in his southern drawl, “I as
sume, ma’am, that you do want to
go to the Pentagon Building."
“Why, yes,” Laura replied. "1
have to report at headquarters to
see what my next assignment is
"Same here,’’ said the young
man. “And by the way, let me in
troduce myself. My name’s Best
on—Bob Beston."
Laura had heard that name
many times—it was the name ot
one of the Hying aces of the war.
She had read of his exploits in
China and had seen the newspa
per stories about him when he
returned to the United States us a
“Colonel Beston!” she exclaim
ed. “Of course I’ve heard of you.
I’m Lieutenant Laura Blake of
the Army Nurse Corps.”
“Of the New Guinea Blakes,
Beston grinned.
“I wish 1 were again,” Laura
replied fervently. "But they sent
me back here. Thought I d had
enough front-line action for a
while and sent me on a speaking
Beston slapped his knee and
laughed. “I was sent on a speak
ing spree myself! And 1 give you
my word, I’d rather have been
shot!”
"Isn't it awful?’’ Laura agreed
wholeheartedly. "At first 1 was
scared to death. Then I got ovter
that and found it really interest
ing. Finally I got bored with it.
And now the taxi was drawing
up in front of the huge Pentagon
Building. Colonel Beston knew
something of the length of its
halls, and the intricacies of its
system for getting an outsider to
ttie place lie wanted to go. bo they
said good-by in front of the build
ing.
"Coin’ into a place like this, 1
feel 1 may never see you again,
Nurse Biake," he said with a
smile. "He’ll probably De miles
apart in this same building. But
if you can find your way out by
dinner time tonight, I'd be mighty
glad if you’d nave dinner witn
Why—id love to, Laura re
plied, surprised. "Where and
when shall we meet'.’”
"Lobby of the Mayfair," Hes
ton replied. '‘Six-thirty, hows
that?"
"Swell. Ami 1 hope you get
your transfei.
"Uh, 1 11 yet il all right." snoi
ted the colonel.
He held toe door open for her.
Laura spent a long- time wait
ing. first in the hall, then in the
one ortice alter another, getting
closer and closer to that of Lieut.
Colonel Wright. of the Nurse
but when things began to hap
pen they happened very fast,
-curse W right, whom Laura had
Known before, gave her a warm
and brisk greeting, apologized far
iceeping her waiting, and asked
ner to sit down.
“1 had .hoped to arrange at
least a little ceremony tor this
event,” she said, "but I've been
loo busy.”
Laura was bewildered. She had
no idea why Nurse Wright should
be talking about a ceremony. Be
fore she could ask any questions,
her superior oltieer continued:
"bo i 11 just have to tell you
about your promotion, hand you
your new commission, and lot it
go at that. You've done a fine job,
and you have been a credit to the
Army Nurse Corns. We know
your record well here—your line
work in the hospital in Poi t Liar
win, your work in New Luinea,
and especially your elt'orts be
yond anil aoove your regular du
ties to capture a Japanese spy.
You certainly deserve the promo
tion to captaincy, widen i now
hand you."
Laura gasped. Of all the things
she had thought might happen to
her when she came to Washing
ton, this was the farthest from her
thoughts.
Lieutneant Colonel Wright was
smiling broadly and holding out
her hand.
“Congratulations!’' she said,
and Laura quickly staggered to
her feet. “You act surprised. You
ready ought to have a medal, too,
you know!”
“Thank you, Colonel Wright,
thank you!” Laura stammered."!
just never—”
“No, you never thought of it,”
the older officer said, because you
have been thinking so much about
getting away from that speaKiug
assignment. 1 don t blame you,
but you were doing so well, we
wanted to keep you at it as long
as you could stand it. But now—
well, 1 guess the time has come!”
“You mean—■” Laura began
hopefully.
“When this promotion came
through,” Colonel Wright went
in, “we figured that was a good
time to give you the rest of what
^cu want. All right—the speaking
s ended. You want real nursing
luty. You’ll have it. Above all
•ou want to be a flight nurse,
rhat's what you will be!”
“A flight nurse!” Laura cried.
‘Oh Colonel, when—how soon7”
“You’ll report at once to the
chool of Air Evacuation at Bow.
m FiiW*
replied. “That's where flight nur
ses are trained, along with medi
cal corpsmen and others evacuat
ing the wounded from battle area
by air. You won’t need the full
course that most nurses must take
but there’s a short refresher
course that will be helpful to you
and get you into perfect condi
tion again after your months of
hotel and train living.’’
After she left headquarters,
Laura took a bus to the heart of
Washington.
She went at once to the May
fair Hotel. As it was still an hour
before the time when she was to
meet Colonel Beston there, she
found the writing room and sat
down to write to Jerry.
As she wrote she felt his special
pleasure over learning about her
appointment as a flight nurse. A
pilot’s girl should be a flight nurse
of course.
“It may not be too long before
I see you again, Jerry,” she wrote
“I might be out there with you in
six weeks! That is, unless you
complete your fifty combat mis
sions before then. You must be
well over thirty missions now!
Take it easy—wait for me to get
out there w-ith you!”
Laura finished her letter to Jer
ry. Then she drew another sheet
of paper in front of her and look
ed at it blankly. Her mind was
still with Jerry, even though she
was telling herself that she should
write a note to her mother and
father.
As she dipped the pen into the
ink to begin, someone beside her
Captain Blake, 1 believe t
“How did you know about the
captain business?" she demanded.
“I got lost in that big buildin’
across the river and found myself
in front of your headquarters. So
I just thought I’d ask how you
made out. Some gal told me.”
“Oh, that w'as nice of you to
ask,” Laura said warmly. “And
what about you?"
“What about me?” snorted
Bob, drawing up a little chair and
sitting down on it backwards, his
arms across the back. “They didn’t
have any choice! I just told ’em,
I that’s all!” (
“Then you’re going back as a
tightter pilot?"
"No— not exactly," the young
I colonel answered. "I’m going to
fly one o’ those big boxcars — a
flying ambulance!”
"Wonderful!” Laura exclaimed
“And I'm going to be a flight
“Yeah. I found that out, too." !
Bob replied, “Cuess they need fly
ing ambulance people bad all
right!”
“Of course—it has proved such |
a wonderful help in saving the ,
wounded," Laura "agreed. “And ,
t’s just as important as lighting,
too in case you re disappointed. ' ,
(To Be Continued)
I-'oidhook is a new lima i
bean that has distinguished itself 1
for heavy yiel i, superior adap- i
tahility, and a long bearing sea- -
son. 1
LOOK
ING
,N
THE
WORD
REV. W. A. ROBERTS
WWVWWWWWWWWWA
HOLY SPIRIT
Looking into the Word we find
Jesus speaking to his disciples just
before his departure. (16th ch.
John.) Telling them of the things
which they would have to bear
for his sake in the coming days.
How they would be cast out of the
synagogue and the time would
come when some would kill them
thinking to do God service. No
doubt their hearts were troubled
at the thought of his departure
and were afraid of being left
alone. He being their Master had
taught them and comforted their
hearts on many occasions. As the
Nation has learned to love and
trust their great executive leader
the late Franklin D. Roosevelt,
and has been shaken because of
his sudden departure, even so,
were the disciples moved deeply
when they heard of the departing
of their great spiritual leader
whom they loved. The President
was not able to speak with his
many friends and tell of his pass
ing that their hearts may be com
forted, but had to depart sudden
ly. Jesus, before his departing
spoke these words (John 14:18)
“I will not leave you comfortless’’
The disciples were glad because
he would not leave them alone
but would send the Comforter.
We find in (John 1 :7-ll) “Nev
ertheless I tell you the truth: it
is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away the
Lomrorter win not come unto you
but if I depart, I will send HIM
(the HOLY SPIRIT) uato you.
And when HE is come HE will
reprove the world of Sin, and of
Righteouaneaa, and of Judgment.”
“Of Sin because they believe
not on me.” They who? Everyone
that does not believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. We find
Peter after the day of Pentecost
standing before thousands of peo
ple reproving the world of Sin.
(Acts 2:38-30,) “Then Peter said
jnto them, Repent and be baptiz
?d everyone of you in the name
)f Jesus Christ for the remission
>f sins, and ye shall receive the
rift of the HOLY GHOST. For
he promise is unto you and to
four children, and to all that are
ifar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call.” As He
he HOLY SPIRIT reproved the
vorld of Sin in the days of Peter,
lames, and John, He is and shall
•ontinue reproving the world of
>in until tiie second coming of
The HOLY SPIRIT (verse 8)
s to reprove the world of Righte
msness because I (Christ) go to
ny Father and ye see me no
nore.” We have sceptics even to
iay that say the body of Jesus
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w*<» stolen from th° tomb and
that he did not ri*t? , ,n 11 jead
but everything spoken contrary
to God's Word is only I ho words
of man. God has said, “Let every
mail be a liar and let God be
true," so the truth us we find in
the (20 eh. John I al ter he had
eonte forth victorious over death,
hell and the grave, lie is speaking
to Mary at the tomb saying “Wo
man why weepest thou?" (verse
13,). Not recognizing him, she
asked, where have you laid hint?
(thinking him to be the garden
er). The Lord said unto her “Ma
ry”! She turned herself and say
eth unto him Rabboni: Which is
to say Master" he then had open
ed her understanding and she
knew him. This with other instan
ces when he revealed himself to
the disciples, behind closed doors,
to two disciples on the road, and
again to five thousand at his as
cension, proving to the world that
he did come forth front the grave
and ascended to his Father.
Third, the HOLY SPIRIT is to
reprove the world “of Judgment
because the prince of this world
is judged.” Satan realized God s
judgment upon him again when
Christ arose from the grave. Also
when a person is filled with the
HOLY SPIRIT he realizes afesh
his doom spoken of in {Rev. 20:
10) And the devil that deceived
them was cast into the lake of fire
and brimstone, where the beast
and the false prophet are and
shall be tormented day and night
for ever and ever.”
This one scripture should be a
warning to any person or persons
denying the fact that God has
given the HOLY SPIRIT even as
Christ told his disciples and as the
prophecy of Joel referred to in
Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to
pass in the last days, sayeth God,
I will pour out of my spirit upon
all flesh; and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream
dreams; and on my servants and
on my handmaidens, I will pour
oat in those days of my spirit and
they shall prophesy.
Shall we conclude by saying
that the HOLY SPIRIT came in
to the world to do great things
through those who would receive
him. He also came to comfort the
broken hearted, and to convict
hearts of sin. The Jloly Spirit lias
much office work to perform in
the lives of the children of God
so why should we refuse the pow
er and wisdom of the Spirit. The
HOLY SPIRIT helpeth our intir
mities and is a comforter to min
ister to our many needs, or one
called along side to help.
Rev. A. W. ROPGERS
Cherry ville Full Gospel Church
Pink and Academy
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N. J Jefferies, ^
Father Of 9G,
Taken By Death
North John Jefferies, of Hick
dry grove, formoi lv of Blacksbur
uni to have been 96 years old an
the father of 96 children, died o
Thursday morning: about 5:50 o
clock at Hickory Grove.
Relatives said the descendant
included 150 grandchildren am
99 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held a
the Saint Janies A. M. E. Zioi
church at Hickory Grove at 2 o’
clock iSunday afternoon with th
pastor officiating. Interment wil
he in the church cemetery witl
the Foster Funeral Home, rnorti
cians, in charge.
Survivors listed include a wife
Marie Jefferies; two sisters, Mar;
Simmons and Betsy Morgan o
Hickory Grove; two brothers Johi
Smith of Braddock, Pa., and Pet<
Jefferies of Philadelphia; and th<
following 21 children: July Jef
feries, Shelby, N. C. Cooper Jef
feries, Cherryville, N. C., Danie
Jefferies, Shelby, N. C., Jame
Jefferies, Baltimore, Md., Scot
Jefferies, Kings Mountain, Pvt
Roscoe Jefferies Smith, Chanub
Field, 111.; Fred Jefferies, Gasto
nia, N. C., Lawrence Jefferies, o
Charlotte, N, C., Mary 8yers,
Earl, N. C., Susan Bailey, New
York, N. Y., Sarah Nichols, S*die
Reid, Hickory Grove, Rachel
Black, Blacksburg, Lena Smith,
Cherryville, N. C., Mamie Smith,
Charlotte, N. C., Cora Hunter,
Kings Mountain, N. C., Lilly May
Jefferies High Point, N. _G., Daisy
Smith, Kings Mountain, N. C.,
Belle Smith, Gastonia, N. C., Sin^&.
ia Logan and Louetta Smith^B
Kings Mountain, N. C.
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From where I sit*, fy Joe Marsh
y • The Cuppers •***&
f Hove a Dream Come True
Dee and Jane Cuppers used to
say that as soon as the children
Vxd flown the roost, they were
roini r.ff to; pither on a second
' oney »fc>on... take a trip... or
rc.t an apartment in the city.
«o after little Sue got married,
l stopped in to sgoodbye. Dee
* * situ?«g in hit favorite chair
i ♦••re the flee, immg a mellow
fhw of beer. .1 "d „nne was busy
with her knittiiv,, fast as always.
They looked at » recess as
the tabby cat on the hearth.
"Jane and I ?.oured,” Dee ex
plained, “that you couldn’t beat
being at home alone together,
with our own things - talking
and reading-enjoying my glass
of beer, and Jane her buttermilk
—living and letting live 1 guess
you can’t beat home!"
Prom where 1 sit, Dee's had a
better dream come trae the
dream of peace and tolerance
and understanding that we ail
are fighting for, and praying for,
today,
• 1945, UNITED STATES BREWERS FOUNDATION, North Carolina ComaiHoo
fctgur H. Ban>, Slat* Director, 509-607 lotwanco Bldg., Roloigh, N. C.
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