Evening star., 1923-03-11
BARRY STAGES A lFADEAWAY
TN in
unns
OnceJ der Wayk aSpeedAn

to show that they don't find me fasci-
mating. So you're perfectly safe,
Barry
AS he sat there listening a hurt
look came into his blue eyes. You
never would take me seriously, Trilby
May" he protested. "Am I still such
a callow YOUTH"
About 30 per cent boy-thank
goodness says I.
LIE stared at me, puzaled. II don't
i i know just what you mean by
that" says he. II never could uite
make you out, you know. OF course.
you may be right. But hanged IL ]
feel so juvenile. I'm tired-dead
tired
Naturally says l. after a siege
like that. But you've finished the
piece. and it's almost bound to be
go. Now you can play around and in
now"
IT need longer rest than that"
says Barry. Three months. at least;
maybe six. I'm going to take 1t. too.
Do you know what mean to do?'
Take a room at the Players Club
and have breakfast in bed every
morning at 1o:so?' says I.
That's a poor guess" says he. Il
shall get as far away from Broad
way as 1. can and stay away until I'm
homesick to get back"
THAT listens sensible," says l.
where Will you strike for flrst?'
you couldn't guess" says he. Did
you ever hear OF Biskra?"
"Eh?' says r.
IT'S the jumping-off place in the
Sahara" he goes on. I've merely
read about 1t, but I've always wanted
to go there. Not just on a flying
trip. but to settle down for a few
weeks and get to know the desert
SEQ the sunrise over the sand hills.
wander out in that brilliant moon
light and watch the camel trains
come in through the sandstorm. 1t
must be fascinating and restfui. Or
does it seem just wild and foolish to
Sou?"
I didn't answer thai. ! didn't want
10 Just then. So I gave him one OF
my ouizzlng smiles. What next,
Barry boy, after Biskra?" asked
"Oa, other queer places says he.
"India and China and Japan. I'd like
to go knocking about. with no par
ticular program; just stopping where
! wanted to and going on when I got
good and ready. But I'd like to see
some OF the odd corners Of the world
and some Of tho strange people"
"All aione?" i suggested. Wouldn't
it be rather lonesome at times:'
II suppose it would" says he. But
don't know any one who would caro-
to do that sort of thing with me
that is, any one who I'm sure would
be- congenial."
You'd need to know them very
we'll to be certain on that point.
wouldn't your I asked
He nodded That's the trouble"
says he. Its the acid test. travelling
together. And this would be such
freaky sort Of tour. In fact,
wouldn't risk asking any one I know
to start on such a trip"
"M- -m-m!"' says I, resting my chin
on both hands and staring thought
full into the fire. 1T would be taking
big chance. wouldn't it?'
He agrees. and then for a while
neither of US. said anything more
Finally he breaks out with: Still. I
did think OF asking some one. Icame
very near doing 1t, too
"Yes?" said I. encouraging.
And then" says he, II lost my
courage"
TOO bad" says I. Might have
| been the very one
He gave me a quick. eager glance.
Suppose it was you, Trilby May??" he
| asked.
Me-" says 1. Now that il odd.
Biskra. And then to India and China
and Japan. Tell me. Barry; you
weren't listening outside the door be-
fore you came in, were you?'
What do you mean. Trilby Mayo
says he.
Why" says I, II was telling Inez
OF a trip 7 wanted to take. if I had
the nerve
Where to-" asks Barry.
well" says I, "it-it began with
Biskra, too"
| e,
his mouth open and his eyes round.
| and when he does that he looks more
boyish than ever
"Honestly?" he gasps "You-you
want to see the DESERT"
| I've just been telling Irez all about
it, says I. And how I'd 20 from
there to India and China and-'
= x 4 x
/ COMETIMES Barry is a bit slow at
~ getting started. but once under
way he's speed artist. I don't know
why he should think he could do It,
either. I can't think what encourare-
ment I could have given him that he
should feel he could get away with
anything like that. But the next
| thing I knew he had pulled me to his
end of the davenport and-welI, If
any movie director had been there I
expect he could have shot about three
hundred feet Of fond fade-away stun
that would have had 'em chucklins in
the back seats.
stop it, Barry" 1 finally managed
to gasp. 'rhis is no endurance rec
ord we're out for, you know"
| 81 don't care" says he. 'Tve got
you, Trilby May. and Tb not going to
let go until you've said you would"
| Would what, silly boy?" asked.
Marry mo tomorrow and start for
Biskra," says he.
'How absurd" says 1. Most cor
tainly not"
| "Wha-a-at!" says Barry, with al
most tears in his voice.
| mot before next Wednesday, any,
way" says I.
We were still there before the
burned-out log fire an hour or so
later, but I managed to edge at least