Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-02

credulity. SN
YOU" she whispered. "the first
sportsman of England--a-a coward" z
He gave a short mirthless laugh.
queer, isn't IL, the way chap
feels about such things? always
hated the idea of being mangied.
Awfly unpleasant idea that-'specially
In the tummy. In India once I saw
chap"
You--a coward" Doris repeated, !.
wide.eyed. ~ don't believe you" NJ
He bent his head again.
TIN afraid you'd better" he safd 3
uncertainty. a
She rose, still looking at him ia.
credulously, another doubt. a more Il
dreadful one, wineing its fight to and y,
fro across her inner vision.
Come" she said in a tone she
hardly recognized as her own. come
let us join the others"
lie stood uncertainty and as she
started to go. ~
You'll let me take you home,
Doris?" lie asked.
She bent her head and without re-
plying made her way to the group
beyond the alcove. %s
Hammersley stood moment watch.
ing her diminishing back and then q
curious expression. half of trouble.
Then after "A quick glance around
the curtain he suddenly reached into
his trousers pocket. took something
out and scrutinized 1t carefully by the
light of the lamp. He put II back
quickly and setting HI monocle sauh-
tered forth into the room. As he
moved to join the group at the plano
John Rizzio met him in the middle OF,
the room.
Gould I have word with you,
Hammersley?" he asked.
Happy" said the Honorable Cyril
"Here?" '
I'm the smokingroom-if you don't
mind?"
liammersley hesitated moment
and then swung on his heels and led
the way. At the smoking.room door
from the hallway Rizzio paused, then
quietly drew the heavy curtains be-
hind them. $st
y Hammersley, standing by the table,
followed this action with kind of
bored curiosity, aware that Rizzio's
dark gaze had never once left him
since they had entered the room.
Slowly Hammersley took his hands
from his pockets, reached into his
waistcoat for his cigarette case, and.
as Rizzio approached, opened and Of
fered it to him.
Smoker" he asked carelessly.
81 don't mind If do. But I've taken
curious liking for rolled cigarettes.
All, l thought So He opened the to-
bacco jar and shifted at it. searched
around the articles on the table, then:
How disappointing. Nothing but
Algy's dreadful pipes. You don't
happen to have any rice papers, do
you?"
Ilammersley was lighting his own
cigarette at the brazier.
NO. Sorry" he replied laconically.
RizziO leaned beside him against the
edge of the table
Strange! l thought / saw you
making cigarette in the dining
room"
Hammersley's face frightened. "Oh,
yes. Byfeld. Byfield has rice papers"
I'D rather have yours" he said
quietly.
The Honorable Cyril looked UP.
Mine, old chap? l thought told
you l hadn't any"
Rzzio smiled amiably.
Then | must have misunderstood
you" lie said politely.
Yes" said Hammersley and sank
into an armchair.
Rizzio did not move and the Hon
orable Cyril, his head back, was al.
ready blowing smoke rings.
! Rizzo suddenly relaxed with a laugh y
, , and put his legs over "a small chair
near Hammersley's and folded HIS
: arms along its back.
"Do YOU know. Hammersley." he
said with laugh. II sometimes think
, that us / grow older my hearing Is
not as good as it used to be. Perhaps
: you'll saw that l cling to nv vanish.
, ing youth with a fatuous desperation.
I do. Rather sillv. isn't It. because
lb,.N Tt.V~ -
, Nsitv, even in 50 small matter, to
, 'oarn whether things are az had with
ne as l think thew are. Now. unless
: "oure going to add few more gray
|. N1irs TO my head bv tellin" me that
''m losing nv soht as well as my
: hearing. you'Il crafty my Curiosity
, an idle curiosity. if you like, but still
, strangely important to my peace OF
! mind"
!, lie paused moment and looked
. at Cyril, who was examining him
/. with frank bewilderment.
'I don't think / understand" said
b. uammersley politely.
:. ''I'll try to make II clearer. Some
q thing has haupened tonight that
makes me think that I'm getting
Y either blind or deaf or both. To
begin with. thought you said YOU
G had no cigarette napers. III heard
YOU wrong, then the burden OF proof
I rests upon my ears: IL my ewes are
u at fault, it's hieh time I consulted
+ specialist, because. you know. at the
q table in the dinino-room. when you
II were sitting with Byfield. quite dis,
tlnctly / saw YOU put a packa~e OF
e Rizla.CroiX into your right-hand
; nocket. The color, as YOU knows Is
n yellow--a color 10 which my optic
nerve is peculiarly sensitive" He
laughed again, II knew you'd hardly
;, go out of your way to make mis-
- statement on so small matter. and
- If you don't mind SATISFYING foihle
j, of my vanity. ] wish you'd tell mo
=, whether or not I'm mistaken"
~ He stopned and LOOKED at Hammers
!. ley. who was regarding him with pos
III lite II puzzled. tolerance. Then. a.
IL realizing that something was re-
v auired of him, Hammersley leared
a forward ~
~ saw. Rizzio! What the deuce u
~ it all about? I'm sorry vou're s,etfin<
old an all that sort of thing. but q
NJ can't help il. Now can l. old chap1
IT, Rizzio's smile SLOWLY faded and ~
gaze passed Hammerslev and roGt<I
on the brass fender of the firepjaco &
G. You don't care to tell mer -
asked. ~
lie "What?" q, z
ds about that package of rice-paperaH
of "Byfield has them" 4., t5
Not that package" put In Rir6i1