Evening star., 1922-12-10
BY
VICTOR
BRIDGES.

I Inere was Always the chance OF seeing
somebody killed.
feel that real good imaginary
smash-up would appeal to mo i'm
mensely In my Present state OF mind.
Without wasting any further time
I picked up my hat and stick, and
then, after looking in at williamson's
bungalow. and asking him to keep
an eye on our tent, I set of across
the fields in the direction Of wcy-
bridge.
It was not until / had reached and
was walking up the main street that
remembered had sent no message to
Otter's Holt. After all, I had accepted
the Invitation to tea, and some sort
of an excuse. however futile. was OBJ
viously needed. turned in at the post
Office. and. after a moments hesita-
tion, wrote out the following tele-
gram:
Am very sorry we shall not be able
! to come to tea this afternoon. Called
away on urgent business"
Then. having put my name to this
lie. I addressed it to Mrs. Congreve.
Otter's Holt, Shepperton. and handed
! 1t in.
| II Brooklands failed to provide me
q catastrophe. it at least helped me to
take my mind of my own affairs.
TT must have been well after when
i I started to walk back to Shopper
ton. The evening was delightfully."-
warm and still. and. soothed by mild
Cabana, which my host had insisted
on my accepting before I left. stroll
ed leisurely on. wrapped once more
in kind Of melancholy submission to
destiny. ! was even able to let my
| thoughts wander over the events OF
the previous afternoon without awsk-
ening any other emotion out a vague.
luxurious sadness. For the moment !
| seemed to have escaped from my own
personality and to be looking down
like one Of the gods with infinite pity
upon the tragedy OF human desire.
Turning OF halfway along tho
| canal, struck into a short cut which
led across the fields to the spot where
our tent was pitched. About half
mile from the river this path ran
| through the yard of the farm from
which We purchased our eggs and
milk. At this point it was really a
private thoroughfare. but the farmer.
in view Of Georges profitable appetite.
made no objection to our using II as
often as we pleased.
was Just opening the gate which
led into the yard. when a sharp
''woof" brought mo to an abrupt halt.
The wild suspicion that held me mo-
mentarily paralyzed was confirmed
moment later. There was a pattering
Of feet, and Winston Churchill sidled
out from the porch of the house. The
moment he saw who 1t was. he sat
down in the mud and threw up his
sccursed head in a howl of welcome.
With a supreme effort I turned to
flee, but it was too late. The door Of
the farm opened. and-and-
God in heaven. How good 1t was
to see her again!
+! She was carrying a jug Of milk in
! her dear hands. and she stood still
and looked at me with a grave smile.
! took of my hat
| IT hope" she said. that the urgent
business has come TO a successful
conclusion"
Ifelt quite incapable Of saying any
thing except Yes"
Il am glad Of that" she went on.
because you missed a very good tea
Then a sudden insanity gripped me
by the throat. and I committed that
most objectionable of all blunders-l
told the truth.
There was no urgent business" J
blurted out rThe telegram was
lie."
She wrinkled up her forehead again.
in that altogether adorable way OF
her own.
"Indeed?" she said. And why
should you send me a lie?"
dropped the cigar which I was
holding, and ground it into the mud
with my foot.
Il heard you were married." / said
hoarsely.
There was a moments silence. and
then, as I live. she began to laugh.
"oh." she said. that accounts for
the telegram! But 1t seems poor
reason for wasting a cigar"
| / stared at her DULY. Il suppose
must appear a particularly ludicrous
sort of idiot" said. MY only ex.
cuse is that / can't help 1t. Good
bye"'
She put out one hand. as though tc
stop me.
Before you co. she said gently
you might tell me when ] was mar.
ried. After all, it's only natural that
1 should be little interested in the
matter"
1 clutched hold of the gate. Every
thing except her face had suddenly
become dim and distant.
do you mean-do you mean to say
that's it's a mistake!" ] gasped.
There are some people," she an.
swered mischievously, who say thai
marriage Is always a mistake"
But George-Barton-Co ]
stammered.
You have not got his Christian
names quite right" she interrupted
They are Walter Vernon. I know
you see, because he happens to be my
brother-in-law."
IT LAID my head down on the gate
/ and relieved my feelings in an in.
sane outburst of laughter. When
felt better I Strengthened myself ane
wiped my eyes.
George is responsible" said. "Hs
=