INTO THE NIGHT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13238, 14 January 1941, Page 3

INTO THE NIGHT

THE EVENING STORY

BY FRANCIS J. CUM MINGS "Are you following me?" George Marbury stepped from his trailer to stare into the accusing eyes of the girl. He felt like swearing. Bach night when he rolled into a trailer camp this girl was waiting to accuse him as she did new. He was sick of it. Sick of her. Sick of the whole trip.

He pushed past her to the shack labelled "Register Here." An old man behind a pine topped counter shoved a card toward Marbury, who scrawled his name across it, and paid for the night.

" 'Don't Take 19 Out of the Junction.' " "Want to warn you about the bridge the other side of the Junction," the old man said. "If its closed when you come to it, back trail. Don't take 19 out of the Junction even though it seems like a short cut. It's all right most of the way across New Mexico, but about the t'me it crosses into Arizona it's dangerous." That's where them bandits are working. Want a paper? Dallas News just came in." Marbury tossed him a nickel for the paper. When he returned to his car he found the girl's trailer in position next to his. There was a light behind one of her windows. He glared at this light, infuriated; then stepped inside his own domain, aware that her presence spoiled his entire evening . His coffee tasted bitter. He burned his steak.

"I'll get rid of.her to-morrow!" he exclaimed aloud. "I'll double back a day."

This plan was solacing and he opened the paper, scanning its columns before turning in for the night. It contained few items of interest. Only one which seemed to have a bearing on this trip. That concerned the possibility that the highway commissioners might close the Apache Bayou bridge at any moment. There was a news account of the latest attack upon motorists by the bandits active in Les Verdi Hills, close o the Arizona border, but Marbury didn't read the details. He tossed the paper aside. Let the bandits terrorize that lonely stretch of the country if they wished. He wasn't going near them. In the morning, Marbury waited until the girl got a good start before he pulled his trailer onto the highway, and headed north, back along the road he had travelled the previous day. That night he slept peacefully and quietly, undisturbed by the presence of the girl. But as he drove southward again the next day, he was in a forgiving mood, and speculated upon the possible reasons for the girl's fear of being followed. Late that evening, when he again registered at the trailer camp where he last saw her, he inquired of the old man, concerning the possibility of her reaching the bridge before.it closed. The old man was rather indefinite and vague concerning "the bridge, however, and this annoyed Marbury. That night he slept badly. He drove southward again the next day, the only dominating thought in his mind was the probable safety of this brown-eyed, brown-haired girl. Toward evening, he came to wish she would be in the

About a Love So Strong That Nothing Short of Bandits Could Make George Believe He Had It

trailer camp when he arrived. She was not there. And the next day his anxiety had increased greatly. He began to consider himself a fool for not being more concerned about her. She was too young. Too inexperienced to be driving her own trailer. Something might happen to her. There were also the uncertainties of the road ahead to plague him. Out of the corner of his eye he watched for her trailer, hoping she had been turned back by the bridge. Twice he stopped at wayside gas stations to inquire about the bridge and learned that it had been closed that morning.

He felt relieved by this news. It meant she would have to spend that night in Junction City trailer camp, and he would explain himself, and at least make sure that no harm came to her. So he pressed on, driving at top speed, reaching the trailer camp long before any car turned back at the bridge would have been able to make. it . Then he waited close to the entrance watching for her car.

At 8, however, she was not in, and he became worried. Then he made inquiries from the motorists who had come in.

"The brown-eyed girl? Oh, yes," said one. "She took number 19. Said she wasn't afraid. Bandits couldn't frighten her. She said she would make it tough for any bandits."

Marbury became nervous and impatient. He started before dawn the next day, punishing his motor in his haste to reach her before she entered the Les Verdi area. There was but one tailer camp between the Junction and the border. He passed this at 12.30, and at 5, could see the purple shadows of the Les V e i*di hills ahead. ■ 'Cold fear clutched at his heart. How his motor poked along! Later as night settled over the hills his fears increased. Fragmentary accounts of Les Verdi bandits flashed in his mind. Usually they murdered their victims.

car came around the curve and his ahead where the road curved. His ca came around the curve and his headlights caught two men and a. girl struggling near the end of a trailer. Almost, instantly, the bandits fled. _ She was brushing truant strands of hair from her face as Marbury stepped out of his trailer. "I never was so glad to see anyone as I am to see you now!" she exclaimed.

"But this" time I did follow you: I couldn't get you out of my mind," he told her. "I know," she answered. "I could feel you thinking of me all the way across New Mexico. I shouldn't have been so short with you before. But you see, I believed dad hired you to follow me. He didn't want me to make this trip alone. But I did anyway. I must have been crazy. But I'm ready to let you take me back now."

They examined the car. Two front tires were down. The cylinder block was cracked by a high powered rifle bullet;

"They can come out from the camp ahead and tow your outfit in to-morrow. Now you'd better step into mine and get some supper." He v/atched her busy around his trailer kitchen. And then he knew what he wanted all his life, what he needed to make his happiness complete, was to have her busy around his trailer. When they, were once more moving along the highway, this time toward the trailer camp ahead, he covered one of her hands with his. It wasn't necessary to say a word. Both knew, in some wonderful way, what the other was thinking, as they moved in silent understanding into the night.