Evening journal., 1922-04-13


or twice he did. But Mabel showed
very clearly that this was very far
from having her approval and on
the second occasion said so. There
was the slightest possible little tiff
about IL; and thenceforward-th
subject having been opened-there
were frequent little passages over
Enie, arising always out Of his doing
what Mabel called forever sticking
Up for her" How frequent they
were, and how much they annoyed
Mabel. he did not realize until, in
the last week Of his leave, and In
the midst Of a sticking up for her
scene. Mabel surprisingly an
nounced. "well, anyway I'm sick
and tired Of the girl. and I'm sick
and tired of having you always stick
ing up for her. and I'm going to get
rid Of her-tomorrow."
But. Mabel-what will her
people think7"
I'm sure I don't care what they
think. II you're so concerned about
the precious girl, I'll tell her mother
that I was going TO make other ar
this was your last week we thought
we'd like to be alone together. VIII
that satisfy your"
II hope Il will satisfy them. And
hope very much indeed that you
don't do It,"
But she did do It, on the fell
lowing day Efiie left. Sabre, pre-
tending TO know nothing about It,
went for a long walk all day. When
he returned Efiie was gone. He said
nothing. Her name was not again
mentioned between him and Mabel.
II happened that only the reference
to her sudden departure In which
ne was concerned was with Twyn-
ing.
Setting out on his return to France
his orders were to join a Fusilier
battalion, reporting TO oath Division
.-he found Twyning on the plat
form at Tidborough station buying
a paper.
'Hullo. old man." said Twyning.
'Just off7 I say. old man, old man
old Bright's very upset about Efie
getting the sack from your place
like that. How was it?"
Twyning was looking keenly at
him. But a bit sudden, wasn't II?
I mean to say. I thought you we're
on such friendly terms with the girl.
Why. only a couple OF days before
she left saw you with her having
tea in the cloister team rooms.
yes, I remember; we were walt
ing for my wife,"
"Oh. yes. waiting for your wife,
were you ?" Twyning appeared 10 be
thinking. well. that's what
mean. old man. She's seeing you
of. I suppose7"
mo. she's not. She's not too well.
Got a rotten cold"
Twyning stared again. "Oh, I'm
sorry. old man. Well. you'n want
to be getting IN. I'll tell old Bright
what you say about Efie. I quite
understand. Seemed a bit funny at
first. that's all. Goodby, old man
Jolly and luck"
He put out his hand and squeezed
Sabre's in his intensely friendsly
giip; and destiny put out its hand
and added another and a vital hour
TO Sabre's ultimate encounter with
life.
His leave ended with the one thing
utterly unexpected and fiagrantly
impossible.
Arriving in London about .. he
stood on a street refuge TO let by
cab coming out OF the station. As
II passed he saw its occupants-two
women; and one saw him-Nonal
OF all incredible things, Nonal
She stopped the cab and he hur-
ried after It.
'Nonai"
'Markoi"
She said. I'm hurrying to Euston
10 catch a train. Tony's mother Is
with me-"
How funny her voice was. Mona,
you look III. You sound III. What's
up2 Is anything wrong7"
She said. "oh. Marko. Tony's
killed"
Mona"
- That came careening head
long, as though malignity, bitter and
wanton, had loosed a savage bolt.
TX
On the following morning n,
crossed 20 France, there TO take NJ
again that strange identity IN who's
occupancy his own self was held II
abeyance. waiting his return. Sevei
months passed before he returned I
that waiting identity and he re
sumed It then permanently-don
with the war. The tremendot
fighting. OF 1s17-his participate
in the war-his tenancy OF Il
strange personality caught up in Il
enormous machinery of it all-en'
ed for him in the great bres
through OF the Hindenburg line
November. on top OF a recollectiC
OF sudden shock, then OF whirlir
glddiness IN which he was co..
scious OF some enormous violen'
going on but could not feel it'll
(as he afterwards thoughD begi
ming 10 come to in the middle OF
tooth extraction under gas--on q
top OF these and OF extraordina
things an dscenes and people
could not at all understand car
someone saying:
well. it's goodby TO the war Z
you. old man"
He knew that he was aware al
scmethow for some time had be-
aware-that he was in a cot in
ship. He said, Il got knocked ol
didn't II"
Someone was telling hi
some interminable story about som
one being wounded in the should
a. 4bo Lnaa He aafd. and N