Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07

roadway from camp. through the VII
lage Of Erizee lie Petite, and struck
the highway. A parade was going on,
moving slowly but without halt,
northward a parade as long as the
highway itself, great dark shapes.
trucks by the score. by the hundred.
by the thousand, no lights. artillery
caissons, staff cars fighting to get
ahead motor cycles weaving in and
put, no lights; a machine gun company
plodding in silence, endless.
Tom Boones driver vas better than
good. They darted ahead into every
opening. They passed through dark
ened villages and wound across open
spaces where only the white road was
visible. Up ahead there was mo-
mentary halt and an alteration. Some
motor cycle had crashed into truck.
The motor cycles trent wheel was
smashed and it was dragged aside.
Abreast Of the point where the acct
dent occurred, Tom Boone saw two
men beside the ruined machine, one
of them berating the other for care
lessness. The voice vas angry, high
and clear, and familiar. But Boone
gave no signal to pull aside and stop.
1t was not important.
1t was not important that Phil
Blanchards driver had wrecked his
motor cycle. The important thing. the
curious thing. was that st. George
was on the highway at all. or course,
they had gone up to Souilly together,
once or twice. those times Tom Boone
had taken him along for company.
Now Phil was going alone. Perhaps
it was important after all.
= 4 =
COCILLY was like other villages,
~ save that 1t was larger. Lieut..
Boone left his motor cycle and driver
at the first cafe they came to and
walked on until he reached another
one. 1t was the main cross-road and
had a red door that, when he opened
it, glowed under yellow beam from
inside.
In the main room were lamps,
warmth, crude tables and chairs, a
broad fireplace, several American sol.
diers drinking yellow cognac and red
cherry brandy, a few French lingering
az long as possible over their white
vine He walked straight on through
and into 81 small alcove with a single
table. At the table was young
woman i'll nurses cloak and cap.
| She was just waiting, thoughts far
away, and she did not see him until
he spoke. Sorry I'm late, Marion.
Terrific crush on the road"
! She was startled. Her lips parted
| in surprise. You, Tom" Didn't YOU
| get my message? | sent word
| couldn't see you tonight. =
| But you're here. Marion Yes
| it was very important that he should
| have overtaken Lieut.. Phil Blanchard
on the road to SoIlly that night. Tom
Boone smiled TO cover a pain. phil S
motor cycle was smashed on the way,
| he said Your message didn't reach
me. You wouldn't so in for subter.
fugas with me, would you. Marion?'
mo. Not with YOU" She answered
him slowly. without looking at him
Il was going to tell you. Tom. And
will, although 1t will Kill me. Be
cause I'd rather have you think well
Of me than anybody. Sit down. No
over here by me. You'll have 10 help
me out, as always. even against your
self
lie sat beside her on the bench
against the wall. and put his arm
around her.
IAN right now Marion" he said
Let's have IL. You've fallen In love
with Young blanchard. Isn't that IT
And what we've meant to each Other
during these months just doesn
make any difference. You can't hell