New Britain herald., 1928-06-27
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keep your eyes open TOT an empty taxi. Miss Webster. and if you see one, hail it."
 They passed several parties from the ship but Virginia avoided stop ping and shook her head firmly when some of them shouted to her to join their groups. After they left the city and got on a country highway they met the negro peasants coming in with their market baskets perched upon their . heads. The natives moved along. working their Jaws ndustriously. the hips of the women swaying with an lndescribable rhythmic motion. Those who were mounted on don keys displayed a nonchalant poise that won Nirginia's admiration. They might have been going 10 their own Coronatlons, she remarked to her companion. They're proud of their freedom from slavery" Miss Webster told her.
 ! Virginia sighed. That's why they strut" the other went on,
 | Virginia thought she should not call it strutting. Rather an express sion of people who had found them- selves-not on a high plane, per- haps, but so much loftier than their former state as to fill them with a i prideful satisfaction no one could ! begrudge.
 l The natives paid scant attention to them. Never haltlng in the march i or turning to stare. Now and then elanccs of impersonal curiosity were cast upon them as they were trotted along the hot road, but no one ad- dressed them. They passed cabins where naked pickaninnies swarmed through open doors and windows and spilled out on the road. Then the character of the dwellings changed and finally they began to see an occasional villa, hidden almost from sight by palms and tropical plants vines and flow CTS.
 "Is it much farther?" Virginia in quired. pitying the poor pony.
  tion.
 "The next place. if I remember correctly. IL IS several years since |, I've been here" Miss Webster ex- plained.
 She spoke to the driver in a French that Virginia could but part ly understand. He nodded his head, , without turning it. and Virginia as sumed the next place 10 be Mir. Leigh's.
 A few minutes later they turned into driveway that once had been ma gnificent. Of course Virginia could not compare it with past glory but Miss Webster could. and did.
 My. how he's let 1t run down. Well. think bachelor always does down here in the tropics"
 Virginia did not trouble to inform her that Mir. Leigh was not a bach elor. or rather that, until recently, he had had a wife.
 Will you come in with me"' she asked ''Of course you know I've come on private business, but l dare say there'll be a comfortable room where you can wait"
 T doubt it, by the looks of things the steWardess answered as she cast disappearing glances over the weed grown lawn and tangled gardens.
 When her eyes met the tumble down steps and sagging porch she gasped. Look at if. And it used to be such a pretty place."
 T suppose decay is rapid here" Virginia said defensively. but her own opinion was disturbing. Every thing looked very much as if Oddly Leigh had been broken in more ways than one.
 The got out and she notioned the driver 10 get his pony into the shade at the side of the house. He obeyed her and Virginia heard him talking with someone she could not sec.
 She was about Co walk around the house 10 see what had become of him when the slap, slap, slap. of 'bare feet came nearer beyond the paint peeled door.
 Tn. door was opened a crack and q Woolly gray head twisted around to get look at them,
 "Open the door, Miss Webs' or ordered in no uncertain tones using the native patois as she understood Il.
 The old darky threw the door open and stepped aside.
 Who does you wish 10 see ." h. asked in English.
 Miss Webster turned inc matter over 10 Virginia at once, The latter produced q card, wrote q mesa gc tn fl and asked the servant 10 take Y 10 hls master.
 'Massa very sick he said, ap. pairing reluctant 10 receive tht card.
 Has h. q nIrse, or anyone 1T au' horI'y whom I may speak to?' : Virginia inquired after d slight hes i'ation.
 Good Tor no. H. ain even go q doctor"
 . Then I must See him." Virginia stated empha'ically. He isn't tot : III 10 rad Is h"" she added in sud
 den alarm that her message nigh b, meaningless 10 him.
 "No he done read a11 right Blu he ain seeing nobody. 1cyer'l ladie'