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Show Cousin Lizzie By W. T. BOWCOTT McClure Newspaper Syndicate. WNU Features. SANDRA watched the tall cadet out of the corner of her eye. He had detached himself from the host of fledgling aviators streaming from the train. He leaned against one end of the booth just grinning. Sandra tilted her red USO cap to a less saucy angle and continued to pour coffee. She knew that the Approach would follow. It always did. Vaguely, she wondered which one he would use. He seemed to be the you-remind-me-of-my-sister type although the haven't-I-met-you-in-Atlanta theme had been gaining popularity in recent re-cent weeks. It was neither. "Er pardon me, but . . . aren't you my cousin Lizzie?" Sandra was caught completely off guard. Here was a brand-new onel "That's right." She smiled and pushed the jar of doughnuts toward . him. "And I suppose you're 'the man who came to dinner?' " "Shucks." The cadet grinned guilelessly. "I don't blame you for not recognizing me. It's been . . . let's see . . . twelve years now. I'm Lee Lee Manley." He waited expectantly. ex-pectantly. Evidently that was supposed sup-posed to explain everything, "Oh!" Sandra exclaimed, her brown eyes widening. "Lee Manley. How cozy!" She gave him a cup of coffee. "That should make us old palsy-walsies." His blue eyes sparkled disarming-ly disarming-ly as he prattled on. "Mother told me you were working for the USO In Pensacola. All the way down here I've been wondering about you." He surveyed her trim figure with ob- v vious satisfaction. "You're much prettier than I expected." She smiled wryly. "Cream or sugar?" His line was beginning to follow familiar patterns. "Look, Lizzie," he said, as he emptied his cup. "I don't have to report re-port to the air station for another hour. Can't you take a little time out to show me the town?" "Hmmmm," she mused. It ap- s peared that she had an exceptionally smooth operator on her hands. She I was interested in seeing what he'd think of next. "O. K., Sir Launce-lot," Launce-lot," she smiled. "I'll try to cover our little metropolis." Outside, the warm Florida sun bathed Palafox street in its rich glow. Crowds of cadets, resplendent in spotless whites, filled the sidewalks. side-walks. Femininity was at a premium pre-mium in Pensacola. Several of the boys stared enviously at Lee. "Gosh," he observed, "the navy sure has taken over this town!" "Wolves," Sandra declared, "all of 'em." They walked to the pier and looked out over the choppy water. In the distance a lumbering lumber-ing Catalina was silhouetted against the horizon. Overhead a flight of nine Vultees roared in perfect formation. Lee's eyes followed the planes until they were out of sight. "Boyl" he breathed. "I can't wait to get at the controls." Sandra smiled. Aviation cadets had two interests in life planes and girls. For almost an hour they rambled aimlessly. Sandra grudgingly grudg-ingly revised her first impression of Lee. He seemed as innocent as a schoolboy. For a change it was refreshing re-freshing not to be subjected to a line but she still couldn't understand that "Cousin Lizzie." "Well," he announced an-nounced abruptly. "Guess I'll have to be going." "Yes," she agreed. "It wouldn't do to report late the first day." "Well, Lizzie ..." he hesitated, then suddenly caught her in his arms and kissed her. Two passing buddies whistled. It was all very uncousinly! "You you wolf!" Sandra gasped. She freed herself and suddenly raced down the crowded street, oblivious to the stares of the pedestrians. pedes-trians. And as she ran her anger left. Instead, she was plunged into the depths of misery. Her last thread of faith in mankind had been broken. He had seemed so wholesome whole-some so sweet! It would have been easy to like him a lot. When she finally reached the depot she found a new worker on duty. "Oh, Sandra," called one of the girls, "I want you to meet our new assistant Betty Reed." Sandra nodded mechanically. She' was debating de-bating which form of torture would be most satisfactory ... tar and feathers ... or boiling in oil. "I'm awfully sorry," said Betty, "I was to report two weeks ago but I've had such a cold . . . my cousin was supposed to come in today, too. Gosh, I sure hope I haven't missed him!" "Your who!" "My cousin . . ." Sandra performed mental gymnastics. gymnas-tics. Betty Elizabeth Lizzie! Of course! She seized Betty by both shoulders. "Tell me quick. Is his name Lee Lee Manley?" "Why, yes. But, how did . you . . . ?" Sandra had no time for questions. She dashed to the nearest telephone. At that moment, in the cadet barracks. bar-racks. Jack Reed was talking to his roommate. "How're you doing?" he asked. "Got a date for the prom yet?" "I don't know," Lee laughed. "I should hear any minute now." "Well, don't worry about Betty," Jack grinned. "Sis was with the Little Theater. She'll handle her part all right." The phone rang. Lee winked as he picked up the receiver. |
