U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [143]
"Mrs. Moorehouse," said Eleanor. "I want to speak to you about this unfortunate misunderstanding of my rela-tions with your husband . . . Do you think I am the sort of woman who could come out here and face you if there was anything in these horrible rumors? Our relations are pure as driven snow."
"Please don't speak of it, Miss Stoddard. I believe you."
When J.W. came in they were sitting on either side of the fire talking about Gertrude's operation. Eleanor got to her feet. "Oh, I think it's wonderful of you, J.W." J.W. cleared his throat and looked from one to the
other.
"It's little less than my duty," he said.
"What is it?" asked Gertrude.
"I have offered my services to the government to serve
-360-in whatever capacity they see fit for the duration of the war.""Not at the front," said Gertrude with a startled look.
"I'm leaving for Washington tomorrow . . . Of course I shal serve without pay."
"Ward, that's noble of you," said Gertrude. He walked over slowly until he stood beside her chair, then he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "We must al make our sacrifices . . . My dear, I shal trust you and your mother . . ."
"Of course, Ward, of course . . . It's al been a sil y misunderstanding." Gertrude flushed red. She got to her feet. "I've been a damn suspicious fool . . . but you mustn't go to the front, Ward. I'l talk mother around"
. . . She went up to him and put her hands on his shoul-ders. Eleanor stood back against the wal looking at them. He wore a smoothfitting tuxedo. Gertrude's salmon-colored teagown stood out against the black. His light hair was ashgray in the light from the crystal chandelier against the tal ivorygray wal s of the room. His face was in shadow and looked very sad. Eleanor thought how little people understood a man like that, how beautiful the room was, like a play, like a Whistler, like Sarah Bern-hardt. Emotion misted her eyes.
"I'l join the Red Cross," she said. "I can't wait to get to France." NEWSREEL XIX
U. S. AT WAR
UPHOLD NATION CITY'S CRY
Over there
Over there
-361-at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company a $2,500,000
melon was cut. The present capital stock was increased. The profits for the year were 259 per cent
JOYFUL SURPRISE OF BRITISH
The Yanks are coming
We're coming o-o-o-ver
PLAN LEGISLATION TO KEEP
COLORED PEOPLE FROM
WHITE AREAS
many mil ions paid for golf about Chicago Hindu agi-tators in nationwide scare Armour Urges U. S. Save Earth From Famine
ABUSING FLAG TO BE PUNISHED
Labor deputies peril to Russia acts have earmarks of dis-honorable peace London hears BILLIONS FOR ALLIES
And we won't come home
Till it's over over there.
THE CAMERA EYE (27)
there were priests and nuns on the Espagne the Atlantic was glassgreen and stormy covers were
clamped on the portholes and al the decklights were screened and you couldn't light a match on deck
but the stewards were very brave and said the Boche wouldn't sink a boat of the Compagnie Generale anyway,
-362-because of the priests and nuns and the Jesuits and the Comité des Forges promising not to bombard the Bassin de la Brieye where the big smelters were and stock in the company being owned by the Prince de Bourbon and the Jesuits and the priests and nuns
anyhow everybody was very brave except for Colonel
and Mrs. Knowlton of the American Red Cross who
had waterproof coldproof submarineproof suits like
eskimosuits and they wore them and they sat up on deck with the suits al blown up and only their faces showing and there were firstaid kits in the pockets and in the belt there was a waterproof container with milkchocolate and crackers and maltedmilk tablets and in the morning you'd walk round the deck and
there would be Mr. Knowlton blowing up Mrs. Knowlton or Mrs. Knowlton blowing up Mr. Knowlton
the Roosevelt boys were very brave in stiff visored new American army caps and sharpshooter medals on the khaki whipcord and they talked al day about We must come in We must come in
as if the war were a swimming pool
and the barman was brave and the stewards were