Evening star., 1926-10-10

truth. Now you and I will just so
out and let ner leave without being
seen, and that will make it nice and
easy for her. See?"
Nice girl? Pretty. I mean?" que
ried Bill. temporarily diverted from
MS own trouble by the spectacle of
1arkers discontinue.
"Oh, yes. very nice girl. but-er--
not pretty. Far from that said
Barker, dropping his voice. "Er--
has rather nasty affliction. really.
Real charity to let her get out with.
out your seeing her. Bill"
What kind of an atfiictiOn!' asked
Bill
"Oh, we'll. sort of harelip. Looks
like a rabbit, kind of. Know what
mean? a great pity. too. Lots of
talent. Young and everything.
Let's ask her out to dinner with
US" offered Bill, lnagnanimOusly.
"Re good for her. I'll ask her
He started ont of his chair. Barker
pushed him back again.
Never" he declared "She'd never
forgive me. She'd think l was MAX
ing fun of her. You put on your hat
and let's go out and eat. Wen go 10
a place l know where we can get
ID Barker's words frOZe on his
lips Bill had picked up something
from beside his chair and was exam
ining it. 1t was piece of silver fox
fur.
This" began Bill. slowly. Cooks
familiar He got up and. striding to
the closed door. flung it open.
George Eliot. looking furiously an
CRY. stood before him. her hands
claspine something behind her back.
Ii. 1, II hi
eyes blazing. his whole body rigid
with fury. Barker sank Imply into a
chair and murmured a profound,
"Oh, Heavens
Don't you dare to speak" snapped
George Eliot before Bill had chance.
You can think what YOU darn please.
came here to get Jim Barker to help
me with something. It's no business
of yours
mo business Of mine, isn't it?
said Bill. That's why you had to
hide in there when YOU knew who it
was at the door? That's why Barker
was so careful TOTO give you hare
lip. SUPPOSE"
George Eliot flashed startled look
at Barker. who was doubled over
in his chair, shaking with some tre-
mendous emotion. Bills glance fol
lowed hers.
LAS for you" he addressed Barker,
his voice tense, II ought to smash
your face for you. Go ahead and
snivel. you thieving liar. l.
I'm not sniveling." interrupted
Barker, suddenly, lifting his tear
stained face. 'I--I'm laughing"
Bill grew apoplectic. lie strobe
over to Barker with clenched fists.
Barker rose and stepped nimbly be
hind his chair.
Look here. Bill he began. but
George Eliot stopped him.
LET me talk to him. Jim, she said,
scornfully. Then she turned to Bill.
II came in to get Jim to help me with
|'something I'm--l'm writing. Mother
refused because it's---it'S not quite her
line. Stop that fool laughing, Jim.
SO I brought it to jim. l didn't want
you to know about it. Bill. 1t was to
George Eliot's high defiance faltered
little. and a hint of tears crept into
her voice.
Bill looked at her miserably.
Surprise" he said, with brief.
hollow laugh. And you left lettuce
sandwiches in the house for me to
eat! You expect to surprise me after
that? Well. never mind me. This
book thing is in your blood and it's
got to come out. It's what you cal!
the cosmic urge or something"
lie picked up his hat and turned to
Barker.
II suppose you've been egging her
ono'
Not at ALL" denied Barker again
approaching hysteria. II was just
telling her when you came that she
couldn't have art and you at the same
time. / told her, Bill. that the time
would come when she'd have TO
choose between you and art"
"Oh. did you?" asked Bill. Did
you really? Well. you've got a
nerve" He strode to the door. I'm
going out" he flung back at them,
tragically. "YOu may stay here. I'm
going out and express myself-freely.
I'm going to eat and drink-mostly
drink" The door closed behind him.
X x * Z
A FTER emerging from several Sc
n we're headaches, brought on by
an overZealouS seeking for self-eN-
preston by his own peculiar method,
Bill in some measure recovered his
balance. WhereupOn he realized that
what George Eliot and Barker had of
fered as an explanation for the for
mer's presence in Barker's apartment
was reasonable. and, knowing George
Eliot as he did, he persuaded himself
to the belief that she was still too
young in literature to be morally
tainted by 1t.
At first he had been convinced that
not only had he lost all peace and
comfort, but also on the altar Of lit
erary creation he had laid the loyalty
and faithfulness Of his wife and his
best friend Things had looked very
dark and were by no means relieved
| by the tap-tapping OF the typewriter
and George Eliot's increasing pallor
Books, however. get themselves
written after a time. George Eliot
began to pick up a bit. and Bill
scented the finish Of the confounded
book. He trembled lest the critics
disparage her work in the clever
wicked style that made everything
they said sound like a sly thrust al
an authors personal reputation.
The typewriter fell silent and a ter
rible suspense crept in to take its
place. Bill wanted to ask George
Eliot when the thing would be out,
the date of its publication. but he
couldn't sci ahc words out.