Evening star., 1924-11-30


tanning a few small parcels.
What forced the girl upon Joe's
consciousness was the line of her
narrow shoulders. a little relaxed
with fatigue. 1t convaved a wordless
appeal to his robust manhood. On
tho instant his for!c-n state seemed
merged, without word or look ex-
changed, in that Of the solitary being
at his side. He stood rooted to the
spot, filled with a complete and COM
pa ssionate understanding of her need.
The doors behind him again swung
open. Forms stumbled out on the
pavement: two stokers and an ordi
nary seaman, guffawing and mum
bling profanity. The latter lurcehd
unsteadily and brushed roughly
against the girl.
She turned on him in a flash. but
Joe was quicker. His hand gripped
the reveIler's elbow like a wise and
with a Jerk sent him reeling across
the roadway.
Amt the street wide enough for
you. without you Eivin' offense to
lady?" he roared. Come back ere, II
IT amt. an I'll use you to widen IT."
The astonished ordinary seaman
continued in the path of acquired mo-
mentum and vanished unquestionably
round the corner. His friends blinked
from Joe's stalwart form to the
speechless girl: and with tipsy dig
nifty re-entered the portals of the
public house.
Joe turned to the girl with apollo
getic protectiveness
rYou mus excuse them, miss.
There's some as don't know how to
behave when they see young lady
about-them that cant tell young
lady from the-the other sort"
nair Of hard vorlnp CON
sidered him with fury that gave place
to suspicion. then to incredulity :.
softened and unbelievably filled with
sudden tears.
With hurried movement that
somehow suggested obedience to a
starved instinct. the girl slipped her
hand inside Joe's arm.
Come away" she said in a choked,
breath,ess voice. Somewhere
somewhere. d. :"
Joe made no reply. 1t seemed to
him the most natural thing In the
world that this unknown girls arm
should be resting in his; that they
should be walking side by side along
the darkling. almost deserted street
And she, after her queer gasping
utterance, was silent, too, her eyes
downcast.
They walked on for several min
utes.
Il was goin' to have a smack of
something to eat" said Joe at length.
when you-when We" He broke
off and looked down at her. Maybe
you could fancy something?"
A CURIOUS calm seemed to have
"A settled on his mind; a deep con-
tentment filled his soul. leaving no
room for any other emotion.
She stopped and searched his face
In the light of a street lamp. She
was very young-perhaps 20. A pale,
thin face with rather high cheek
bones. But her eyes were older than
his. 1t was as If her mind alone
worked behind them and her heart
rarely.
"You-you amt maxim no
mistake, are you?" she said slowly.
Joe continued to return her gaze.
Tho child that remains ineradicable
in the heart of sailors. whatever their
lives or age or rank, was In his face
then. plain for a fool to read He did
her high honor in his very simplicity.
mo, miss
She dropped her eyes and seemed to
reflect, while Joe waited, his hands
behind his back, considering her with
patient kindness.
She raised her head at length,
quickly.
Pm starvin' hungry" she said. and
for the first time they smiled at each
other.
She slipped her hand inside his arm
again.
Joe hesitated.
Maybe you knows some place" he
ventured. Quiet like
This time she appeared nonplussed.
Il mostly take my meals at home"
she admitted, and then laughed soft
Iy. But let's find a place-you know;
not smart an not too noisy. Come
along, there's bound to be one some
where"
. They found it at length. guided by
a dimIy illumined sign over a door
way, and passed up a narrow stair
way into "a room lit by single gas
fare. The three or four small tables,
laid with coarse cloths and cruets,
were unoccupied. They had the apart
ment to themselves.
Joe ordered poached eggs and RASH
ers and tea. They sat down under the
gas jet and their eyes met. The girl
rested her elbows on the table.
whats your name?"
Joe. Joe Torch
She nodded. considering him anew,
Mines Veronica Mortimer" she
said slowly. Il was in business in