Evening star., 1918-03-24
fcHAPTER OxvHI-Continued from
Last Sunday

THREE TRAVELLERS COME HOME
Esteban turned his tired eyes away,
fearing to betray in them his utter
uretchedness. You have done all
there is to do. 1 want you to go back
into your own world and forget
A sudden impulse seized the GIRL
She stopped and gathered the SICK man
In her Young, strong arms. Don't be
silly" she cried. My world is your
world, Esteban dear. III never never
leave YOU
Miss Evans, Norine" Varona tried
feebly to free himself You mustn't
Eorine was laughing through her
tears. eff you won't speak. 1 suppose
I must. but it is very embarrasSin ng.
Don't you suppose ! know exactly noT 1oTS
much YOU love me? Why. you We toio
me a thousand tines
-IsIease, Please" he cried in a
shaking voice. This is wrong won't
let you-you. girl with eyeryth1ng-
.Hush," She drew him closer
s~you're going to tell me that you have
nothing can offer me nothing. ou re
going to do the generous nopie thins-
We'll, l hate generous people,. m
selfish. utterly selfish and spoiled. and
+ don't propose to be robbed of any
thing l want, least of all my happiness
You do love me, don't you?
Esteban's cry was eloquent n, ne ne. ciasp5 asp
him fierceiy to her breast.
Wen. then. why don't you tell me
So IL can't keep on proposing 1t
isn't ladylike.
Were quite mad quite insane" he
told her after a while This only
makes il harder to give you up
You're not going to give me up and
you're not going to die. 7 sha'n't let
you Think what you have to live for
tn
cit was / who surrendered Come.
Must / say it alIr' Aren't you going
to ask me
WHAT"
Esteban easped: he looked deeply
into Norine's eyes. then he closed his
own He shook his head Not that,
he whispered. "Oh, not that
Were going to be married. and l m
going to take you out of this m1ser-
able place .,x
/ were we'll But | won't let you
marry dying man
new strength. new determination She
dried her eyes and readjuSted her nair
with deft. unconscious touch, smiling
. down. meanwhile. at the man n
brought you back when You were all
. but gone. i saved you after the others
had given you up. and now you are
mine to do with as / please. You be-
long to me and I shan.t consult you
She turned, for a figure had darkened
the door; it was one of her English
speaking convalescents who was act
ing as a sort of orderly.
.Senorita." the man said, with
fash of white teeth. I'VE have another
sick man, and you'd never guess who.
It is that American. Ell Deronio-
Mr.. Branch?"
''Si! The very same. He has just
come from the front"
as he sick or wounded" Esteban in
quired.
shot, by Spanish bullet He asked
at once for our senorita-
.tOf course. I'll come in an instant"
When the messenger. had gone Norine
bent and pressed her lips to Esteban's.
Remember, you're mine to do with as
I please" she said; then she fed down
the grassy street
Branch we waitinsA at Norine's
quarters, a s lied figure of detection.
His left arm lay in sling across his
breast. He looked up at her approach.
but she scarcely recognized him, so
greatly changed was he.
Leslie had filled out. There was a
healthy color beneath his deep tan, his
1esh was firm. his eyes clear and bright.
Hello. Norine" he cried We'll.
why. LeslieI 1 was SO frightened.
But-you can't be badly hurt"
Bad .e,,o enoagh so that Lopez sent me
In the field, so beat it,
Has your arm been dressedy'
NO. i wouldn't let these rough-and-
tumble doctors touch it. They'd am
putate at the shoulder for a hang-nail.
don't trust EN-"
Then I'll look at it,
But Leslie shrugged. "Oh, it's feel
ing fine, right nowi I'd rather leave
1t alone just wanted to see you -
You mustn't neglect it; there's dan
Gee. You're looking great" he in
terrupted. It's better than a banquet
just to look at you
And you,' Norine scanned the in
valid appraisingly. Why. you're an
other man.
Sure, Listen to this" He thumped
his chest Best pair of bellows in
Cuba The open air did it
What pity you were hurt just at
such a time. But you would take in
sane risks. Now then. let's have look
at your wound" She pushed him, pro-
testing, into her cabin.
1T doesn't hurt, really" he declared.
TITS only a scratch
Please don't bother. If you don't
mind -"
But do mind. If you won't trust
: me I'll run for DOCTOR
Il tell you I can't stand EN- They'll
probe around and give a fellow gam
CREME"
Then behave yourself" Norine
forced the patient into a chair and
withdrew his arm from the sling Then,
despite his weak resistance, she deftly
removed the bandage. From his ex-
preston she felt sure that she must
be hurting him. but when the injury
was exposed she looked up in wonder
ment.
rLesiie!" she exclaimed. What in the
world -'
We'll. You insisted on seeing it"
he grumbled. Il told you it wasn't
much He tried to meet her eyes, but
failed.
There was a moments pause, then
Norine inquired curious1y: What is
the trouble? You'd better 'fess up"
Branch struggled with himself. he
swallowed hard. then said: 'I'm-
going to. You can see now why ]
didn't go to a doctor: I did it-sho,
myself. You won't give me away?"
'Why-I don't understand"
"Oh, I'm in trouble. l simply had to
get away, and this was all 1 could
think of. 1 wanted to blow real hole
through myself and tried three times
But I missed myself
Missed yourself? How? Why?'
Branch wiped the sweat from his
face. I fiinched-shut my eyes and
pulled the trigger
Norine seated herself weakly: she
stared in bewilderment at the unhap-
py speaker. Afraid? You, Ell De-
nonio. Why. you aren't afraid of any
thing"