The White Knight by Gilbert Morris Page A

over there fightin’ in that war, Mr. Luke?”
    â€œI thought about it a few times, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. I just had to do my job.” Luke was not entirely truthful about this but didn’t want to alarm her.
    â€œWell, I don’t want you goin’ off to no more of them old wars in Spain or any of them other foreign places. You stay here and you go to work with Mr. Timothy and your daddy. It’s high time you find you a good woman, get married, and have some chil’uns.”
    â€œThat sounds like a good plan to me.”
    Luke’s mother came into the dining room with a smile on her face. She leaned over and kissed him. “You’re having pie with your breakfast? Luana, I can’t believe you let him get away with that.”
    â€œI done tried to stop him, but you know how stubborn your son can get.” Luana stood up and returned to the kitchen.
    â€œYou got a telephone call while you were asleep,” Jolie said as she handed him a slip of paper. “I wrote the name and number down.”
    Luke looked at the information thoughtfully and shook his head. “Who is she?”
    â€œMaxine Rogers? Why, she’s a reporter for the Arkansas Gazette. I’m surprised you’ve never heard of her.”
    â€œWhat does she want?”
    â€œShe wants to interview you.”
    â€œNot interested.”
    â€œYes you are. You’re always talking about how people are not aware of what’s going on in Europe. Well, here’s yourchance to let them know. Thousands of people read the Gazette, so you can speak to every one of them.”
    Luke made a face. “A woman, you say? Isn’t it against the Bible for women to be reporters for newspapers?”
    â€œI don’t know where you heard that, but I certainly don’t think there’s anything like that in the Bible.”
    Luke laughed. “I think you’re right. Okay. I’ll call the homely old girl.”
    â€œHow do you know she’s homely?” Jolie demanded, interested in spite of herself.
    â€œGood-looking girls get married and don’t become reporters for the Arkansas Gazette. I’m surprised you don’t know things like that, Mother.”
    â€œYou go call her right now.”
    â€œYes, Mother.” Luke laughed. He stood up and gave his mother a bear hug, picking her up off the floor. “You’re the best-looking woman I’ve ever seen. Whoever this reporter is, she won’t be as pretty as you.”
    â€œPut me down, you fool!” Jolie protested, but actually she loved his teasing.
    Luke made his way to the phone and dialed the number. At once a woman answered, saying, “Maxine Rogers.”
    â€œMrs. Rogers, this is Luke Winslow.”
    â€œIt’s not Mrs. Just Maxine will do.”
    â€œFine. I’m Luke.”
    â€œI’d like to do an interview. I want to do a story on the war.”
    â€œWhich war?”
    â€œWhy—in Spain.”
    â€œThat war’s over.”
    The woman laughed. She had a good voice, full of life, and sounded fairly young. “Then I’ll let you pick the war, Luke. Tell you what. If you’ll join me for dinner tonight, I’ll buy.”
    â€œAre you sure that’s legal?”
    â€œAm I sure what’s legal?”
    â€œBuying me supper. You might try to influence me by lavishing a good meal on me.”
    â€œIt won’t be that expensive. Do you know where Leonard’s Cafeteria is?”
    â€œHad many a meal there.”
    â€œHow about if we meet there at seven o’clock?”
    â€œHow will I know you?”
    â€œI’ll wear a red hat and have a notebook in my hand.”
    â€œAll right. Leonard’s it is at seven o’clock.”
    Putting the phone down, Luke walked back into the kitchen. “I’m going to miss your supper tonight, Luana. A woman’s buying me a meal at Leonard’s.”
    â€œYou