Evening star., 1924-11-30

Of draft for sea. Once before In his
career he had received a similar
summons to appear before the COM
mander of his ship, but he had been
a volunteer for the attack on Zee
brugge then--one of three able sea-
men picked from a battleship's COM
plement of 1000 men. picked for the
privilege of dying on the break
water Of a Belgian seaport to make
history. There was a war on then.
And he hadn't found Veronica.
Enlightenment came the following
morning when no faced the drafting
commander across a paper-littered
writing table. There was going TO
te another naval Antarctic expedition.
The leader of il had asked for him.
provided he was a single man still
and was willing to volunteer. He
Oh. yes. he was single. But he'd like
"a hours to think 1t over.
He walked out into the clear sun
shine OF the parade ground thinking
furiously. He must settle this busi-
ness with Veronica If she would
marry him. well and good. 4Ie would
settle down to the humdrum life OF
the peace navy without further
thought Of glory, counting the world
then that would be the end Of 1t;
the end Of an unreal, dimly compre-
hended idyll. A At and proper state
of mind for q man setting out to con-
quer the Antarctic.
But he must know at once. He
could exchange nights ashore with a
roommate without difficuity. and with
intervention OF Providence he had no
doubt that II he searched the town
long enough he would find Veronica
somewhere-even as he had found her
the first night of all, guided by his
star.
A fever OF impatience consumed
him. Ashore At last, he walk ed faster
than his wont, level eyes scanning
the roadway ahead. searching the in
teriors OF shops where lights were be-
ginning to throw a radiance across
the roadway. His faith was SO unques-
tioning, SO childlike in its assurance
he would find her. that 1t carried him
through his quest without wavering
or despair. Even when the evening
latened and the shops shut, after
cinemas and music halls had thinned
cut the pedestrians, he refused to ac-
cept defeat.
He had wandered out Of his usual
haunts into q quarter he had never,
penetrated with Veronica. 1t was a
labyrinth OF alleyways and low
browed taverns, most OF which were
out Of bounds to mon OF his majesty's
forces-a neighborhood that had
changed little morally or materially
since the press gangs swept 1t with
cutlasS and baton to man Nelson's
fleet.
Joe had paused to light a pipe
when a tavern door swung open to
allow a blowzy woman exit. She
stood arguing on the threshold, hold
ing the door open with her elbow,
affordihg Joe an uninterrupted view
OF the smoky. garishly lit interior.
In that moment his quest ended. He
had found Veronica.
"'scuse me-" he said quietly to the
| woman.
AS she swayed into tho street he
| interposed his shoulder between the
| closing halves OF tho swinging door
| EOR several moments Veronica did
not see him. She was seated in a
corners Of the sawdust-carpeted
lounge beside a psllid-faced young
artif1cer. with one arm around his
neck. Her face was crudely rouged
and her eyelashes darkened. The
pale, obstinate mouth he knew so
"ei was seAine0 tne coiOr OF
geraniums petals. She was staring
1t the row OF beer handles project
| ing above the bar as II some remote
vision claimed her attention far be-
yond the hubbub Of voices and the
opportunities Of the brute that man
can be.
Then slowly she turned her head
and looked At Joe. She stared at him
| without the flicker Of an eyelid. but
IL
! like two dark blotches as the blood
| ebbed from her face.
Joe crossed the room in three
| strides.
Come out Of this
The artihcer, whose arms were
about her waist, scowled valiantly.
Here" he said, who are you
talkin' to-Master Jack Strop? This
Is my girl"
Tho clamor OF voices that filled the
room died to q sudden stiffness. Beer
mugs paused halfway to mons
| mouths. Cautious forms edged to the
| door. The shirt Slowed, thick neck
| ed man behind the bar raised q scar
red head like q bull terrier scenting
distant combat.
"order. please, gentlemen!' he said
in . raucous, bullying tone.
| A woman sniggered.
| joe e.oou ioVAihS oo~h II tno girl
without speaking again. His face
had turned gray. Veronica disen-
gagged her arm from the neck of her
| cavalier and rose obediently to her
feet With q splutter Of imprecation
| the little artifcer rose also. At the
hack Of his scared Intelligence some
| thing told him that this was an af-
fair he'd be better out Of.
| you can have her." he said. I'D
bought her, but don't want her.
Joe turned Indifferent eyes upon
tthe speaker.
T wasn't askin' your leave" ne