Evening star., 1925-09-01
Continued from Yesterdays star)

OOntInueu from 1eStefd3N'S start
Your memory is excellent. Mr.. Slat-
terry" Blum admitted. ITO tell you
the truth, l do so now more from
a sense OF duty than with the ex-
Gpectation of any pleasure. The whole
vworld knows that my father hated
England, and, in "A milder form, l
have inherited his dislike. But, in
these days of settled peace, what can
one do? What good does it do to
ourselves or to the world to keep open
the old sore? | have been asked TO
preside at the anniversary dinner
given to celebrate the reopening of
the German banks in London. / must
confess that at first l refused, but
strong pressure has been brought to
hear upon me. | have decided tn go.
Naturally my presence on such an oc-
ca sion must mean the burying forever
Of all feelings of i'll will"
II think YOU are quite right Hod-
son remarked.
so do l." Grant echoed. Your
presence there will be of great sig
nificance. BY the way. are YOU re-
turning to the States?'
~$I am not sure. Ny friend Lut.
recht, who is coming over to repre-
sent us on the limitation of arma-
mentS conference, is very anxious that
d should be here, but, personally, l
think it exceedingly doubtful. Ny af-
fairs in Germany require my pres
ence, and I have promised to visit
Hamburg within the next few weeks.
] Will only say 'au revoir,' gentle
men. Mr.. Slattery and /, at any
rate, are citizens of the world. and
we are likely to meet in most uneX-
peCted places"
He returned TO his table and the
two men exchanged a smile
Even Cornelius Blum" Hodson
murmured. has a knack of telling
the truth sometimes"
CHAPTER XIV.
There was humor rather than
tragedy in the inevitable meeting be-
tween Cornelius Blum and Grant on
the katalonia. On the morning after
their departure. Grant. while prom
enading the deck, heard a feeble tap
ping against the glass which inclosed
the small promenade of one of the
magnificent private suites, for which
the vessel was famous. Inside Mr..
Cornelius Blum. almost unrecos-
nizable, swathed in rugs, with a hot
water bottle at his feet and servant
by his side, was gazing out at the
world with lack-luster eyes. Grant
oheyed his summons, pushed back the
sliding door and stepped inside
SO you are here, my young friend"
Cornelius Blum said weakly. What
does 1T matter? / am sick in the
stomach. / do not think that | shall
vlive till we reach Southampton"
Not so bad as that, l hope" Grant
yentured.
1T is worse" Blum groaned, be
cause / am beginning to hope that |
Rkhall not. Go away now. l am going
to be i'll. l wanted to be sure that
was not already seeing ghosts. If
this were only your yacht
Grant hurried out with word of
sympathy.
AN object lesson in proportionate
values" he reflected, as he walked
down the deck, and then. his little
enort at philosophy deserted him. He
himself found great events dwarfed
by small ones. His heart was pound
ing against his ribs. He was face
TO face with Gertrude Won Diss!
His first impulse was Iudicrously
conventional. He hastened to relieve
her of the rug she was carrying. Be
hind her came maid with coat, pill
lows and other impedimenta of travel.
Gertrude" he exclaimed as he
stood with the rug upon his arm
Where have you come from? Where
have you been?"
Stateroom number eighty four"
SueeIepleu, ana am on my way TO
that chair, and please don't ask me
whether | have been i'll. Come and
tuck me UP as a well meaning fellow
passenger should"
He obeyed at once. The maid as
sisted his efforts, a deck steward sup
plemented them. Presently Gertrude
declared herself comfortable and her
encourage faded away. Grant sat by
her side.
L am going to break orders" he
said gently. Il am afraid that you
have been ILL.,"
There were hollows in her cheeks.
The freshness of her exquisite COM
plexion had departed. Her eyes seemed
4 have receded. She was thin and
fragile.
Yes" she admitted, "I have been
i'll. A nervous breakdown, accom-
panied by great weakness of the
heart, was all that the doctor could
ind to say about it. / might have
fSNlped his diagnosis
Don't, Gertrude he begged.
My dear man, don't be afraid that
I am going to break into reproaches,
There is nothing more illogical in the
world than the position of the woman
who complains of man because he
doesn't care for her. 1t is no sin of
yours that you don't love me, Grant.
il was most certainly no sin of yours
that. for a few hours, I made you