Laura Mae rented a room at a boarding house in Kingsford. She knew that her money would not last long, so she would have to be very conservative. The landlady was a jolly fat woman with eyes that twinkled whenever she spoke. Laura Mae guessed that the woman was Irish before she even learned that her name was McFarlin. Laura Mae knew that Gene had many friends in Kingsford, but she did not want them to know that Eugene Whitmer's wife was in the city, unprotected, looking for work. Her own father sent her from home and had disowned her so she decided to use a false name. She would use neither Porter nor Whitmer so she became known at the boarding house as "May Elison" in that way she used her father's first name. Mrs. McFarlin wondered about the girl's pale cheeks and sad eyes. Every day, she asked "May" if she were well or if she had found work yet. Each time the girl's answer was the same. "I am quite well, thank you. I have answered all the ads in the papers, but someone has always been given the job that was advertised or else I am not qualified because of lack of experience."

"Oh, I am so sorry," the landlady would say, then her face would suddenly burst into smiles, deep wrinkles would form about her eyes as part of her pleasant expression and she would assure "May" that soon the right job would be waiting for her.

For twelve long days, Laura Mae searched untiringly for work but failed to find any that she could do. There were too many girls with years of experience waiting to take the places that were made vacant by girls leaving for the army of nurses. Her funds were steadily shrinking and she felt miserable and sick at heart as well. She finally decided to comply with her mother's wish and go to Denver. Perhaps her aunt would understand and be kind to her, then she could write to her mother and if any letters came from Gene, they could forward them to her there. She would leave for Denver as soon as her rent was up at Mrs. McFarlin's house. Suddenly, a thrill of happiness came over her, a feeling of security. She was sure her aunt would take her and she would be safe with her.

The sun shone brightly, the whole atmosphere held a quiet peacefulness, as she went to the lunch counter just around the corner from her rooming house. She enjoyed two hot beef sandwiches, with lettuce, and drank a tall glass of rich milk. It was the first food she had eaten wholeheartedly in weeks. When she had finished, she paid for the lunch with one of the new dollars her mother had put into her purse. When she stepped out onto the street again, she looked up and saw a girl hurrying toward her with a traveling bag in her hand. At the same instant, the two girls recognized each other.

"Why, June Malcolm, how are you?" Laura Mae said as Martha's school chum set down her bag and gave the younger girl a warm embrace.

"I have not seen you for such a long time," she said, "What are you doing here, have you been in town long?"

"I've been here for nearly two weeks. I'm trying to find work."

"What kind of work?"

"Oh, office work or anything that I can do."

"I am just leaving to join the Red Cross. Come with me and forget about an office job," June suggested and Laura Mae flushed with embarrassment.

"I can't do that," she managed to say.

"Why can't you?" June's eyes fell upon the little gold band upon the other girl's finger, "Are you married?"

"Yes, I am. June, are you in a hurry?"

June looked at her wristwatch. "I have three-quarters of an hour before train time. I thought I would do my waiting at the station, then I would be sure and not miss my train. Aunt Emily offered to take me to the train in the car but I insisted on walking. I will have to sit and ride long enough after I get on the train. Why did you ask if I am in a hurry?"

"I want you to come up to my room, we can visit better there than on the street. It is just around the corner from here."

"I can go with you for a few minutes. There are so many people in Oakdale that I have not seen or heard of since we left there and went to Salt Lake to live. I would like to know where some of them are and all about the old town. Bashful Erick Johnson, for instance. Did he ever marry?" June was swept by a current of memories of her childhood days. She picked up her traveling bag and the girls walked toward the rooming house, chatting as they went.

"No, Erick never married. You know he is in the army now. He used to be Post Master in Oakdale."

"Who is Post Master now?"

"Philip Dreyer is."

"I knew he was crippled. So he was exempt from service. I will never forget the day he and Eugene Whitmer were quarreling over would carry your books home for you." Laura Mae smiled at the memory and was glad she had decided to let Gene carry them for her. "What other boys besides Erick have gone from Oakdale?" June asked.

Laura Mae named several that were in the army and some that were in the navy. When she named Gene among them, she felt weak and sick.

"Say, you said you are married but I did not think to ask who you married. Do I know him?"

"Why I—Gene Whitmer is my husband."

"Little Eugene Whitmer? I can't imagine him all grown up. He was only boy the last time I saw him."

"He is not a little boy anymore, he is a good-sized man. A soldier in Uncle Sam's army." Laura Mae's heart swelled with pride when she thought of him so manly and handsome. She would have liked to have seen him in his uniform. "Why are you joining the Red Cross, June?"

"Well, I am tired of teaching school and every letter I get from Martha just makes me want to go and work, too." When they were inside Laura Mae's room, with the door closed, they sat down on the edge of the bed. It was an old bed made of slender iron rods, enameled white. The springs screeched noisily at each move either girls made. A gentle breeze came in at the open window and shook the cretonne drapes that were so faded that the design on them was almost gone. They were the only curtains in the room.

"Tell me about yourself," June entreated. "Martha never mentioned in any of her letters about your being married."

"I don't think she knows that I am married." June gave a short gasp in surprise as Laura Mae continued. "Father did not want me to marry Gene so we ere secretly married before Gene went to war."

"I see, doesn't anyone know yet that you are married?"

"Just Mother and Father," Laura Mae choked. She felt that she must tell all of her troubles to someone, so it would relieve the heavy load she was forced to bear. She was sure June would understand and be full of sympathy. "They would not have known yet, but I was sick and they called for old Dr. Wenks, you remember him, don't you?"

"Yes, of course, I remember him," June was anxious for the rest of the story. "What was the matter when you were sick?"

Laura Mae blushed. "Well, they found out that I was married that was all. It will happen around the middle of February the doctor said."

"Oh, aren't you thrilled? I have often longed to be married and have a baby of my own," June said.

"Yes, I am glad, only it is hard the way things have turned out for me."

"What do you mean?" June saw the tears in her young friend's eyes.

"Father thought—he would not believe that we were married. June, it was the hardest blow he has ever dealt me in all my life. I could not think of staying there with him thinking that about me," she sobbed.

"There, there, everything will be all right. The war will soon have to end and Gene will come back to you, safe and sound, I am sure,"

"Oh, I hope he will. I—I don't even know where he is. Father has kept his letters from me. He says he hasn't, but I am sure that Gene has written to me." Laura Mae took a handkerchief and wiped away the tears that were streaming down her soft white cheeks. June listened with deepest sympathy and put her arms around the sobbing girl. She had always liked Martha's sister and had even thought that sometimes Martha had been unfair to Laura Mae when they were all little girls going to school in Oakdale.

"Don't let your father bluff you, Laura Mae. Wasn't your marriage license?"

"Yes, it was. The record of it is at the courthouse here in Kingsford," Laura Mae said with a questioning glance.

"Well, you have proof then that you are married. Bring your father here and let him see the record, let him talk to the man who performed the ceremony."

"He can think what he wants to. I will never go back home to live with him! Mother believes in me. I have been so anxious to find work so I can write to her and assure her that I am all right."

"I have an idea," June said after a moment's thought. "Mother's sister, Emily Chatterton lives here in town. I have been visiting with her for the last few days, she is wonderful to me. You know she is rich from having married the right man. Poor dear Uncle John is dead now and my cousin John, their only child, is on the army. Aunt Emily is so lonesome without him that she has decided to advertise for a young lady with a good reputation to be her companion, that is to keep her company and share her beautiful home until this terrible war is over. She would like you; I am sure and you would like her too. She is not uppish like so many rich ladies. At one time, she was as poor as you or me."

"You don't mean—" Laura Mae began in a faltering voice.

"Yes, I mean for you to go to her and tell her your story. I just know she will take care of you and she is fond of babies. She is always urging John to find him a wife so she can have grandchildren. She wants a baby so she can cuddle it and sing lullabies to it." June was sure her plan would work out beautifully. She glanced at her watch again. "I wish I had time to take you to her and introduce you properly but I must catch this train out for I have already sent word ahead for my brother to meet me."

Laura Mae's mind was all a whirl, she was unable to offer any suggestions or to reject those that June had made. June spoke again, "Have you any writing paper here? I will write a good recommendation for Auntie to read and I can phone her that you are coming out to the house to talk with her."

There was a whole tablet full of writing paper. Laura Mae had bought it so she could write to her mother. June tore out a sheet and wrote,

"Dear Aunt Emily,

On my way to catch the train, I met Maura Mae, the sister of Martha Porter, who is my dearest girlfriend from Oakdale, you have often heard me speak of her. This girl's husband is in the army and it is necessary for her to find work. She would be a wonderful companion for you while John is away. She is honest, clean, and talented, I am sure you would like her as much as I do when you learn to know her. She is expecting a baby in the winter so I do not think an office job would be good for her anyway. Please give her a chance for my sake.

Much love, June"

At the bottom of the note she wrote, "Mrs. John Chatterton, 8103 Colonial Height."

She then explained to Laura Mae that that was her aunt's address as she handed the note to her.

The girls went down the dark hallway together to the telephone, where June called Mrs. Chatterton. She told her aunt to not send her ad for a companion, as she was sending a girlfriend with a letter that would explain everything. After she hung up the receiver, the girls hurried out to the street, where June summoned a taxi in order to reach the station in time to catch the train. The girls kissed each other goodbye and June stepped into the taxi. Laura Mae watched it until it turned the corner and was out of sight, then turned and went back to her room. She wanted to be alone, to have time to think. June's aunt was expecting her so she would have to call and see her. Perhaps she would be turned away but if she were, she could easily carry out her plan of going to Denver to her own aunt's place.