Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-09
By JEFFERSON FARJEoN

| What are you going to do before
them" he had asked.
I shall motor back to Byford
Moor, send by other two good friends
home. and generally clear the deck
for action" she had answered.
Don't worry about me. Mr.. Brown
It's safe at Byford Moor in the day.
light. and before evening you will be
there with me-
Sleep? How could one sleepi
Throughout the hours that followed.
one point had burned into Browns
consciousness. like sun focused upon
a receptive surface-three o'clock!
And now IL was three o'clock-Or. to
be exact. one and a halls minutes 70.
Browns heart began TO thump. and
he got up from the chair into which
he had sunk in order to walk about
and steady himself.
Teal Confound it, He had for
gotten all about that. He ought to
have had 1t ready for her. but now
there wasn't time. Well. never mind.
! He'd soon make 1t after she arrived,
and they would sit here together.
drinking the comforting beverage
and discussing plans.
"And whatever you ask me to do"
he said aloud. IN do 1t. Whatever
it isl"
One minute to three. With absurd
earneStness, he counted on her
punctuality, as though she were q
train that would arrive according TO
schedule. Boldly he raj TO the door.
unbolted 1t, and threw it open.
"A rush OF rain greeted him. The
noise surprised him. He had been
so deep in thought. so wrapped in
his personal contemplations. that the
world outside had temporarily ceased
to exist: but now he became abrupt
ly conscious of it again. and OF the
sheeting rain. and the rumbling
thunder. The garden had been
transformed into a place OF little
pools and unexpected mirrors. "A
sudden puff Of wind blew the porch
vines about. sending a spray of rain
into his face. But he stood there,
no less elated through his rejuv-
enated consciousness of an en-
vironment that was against him
in every particular. Indeed. he re-
ioiced in the heavy odds. since they
could only make her need Of him
the greater.
Brown had worked himself up into
] the inspired condition OF emotion
that aches for heroic madness. II
Joscelyn had come flying through
the garden just then. with Simon
Brill after her. Simon Brill would
have received a blow that would
have ended his earthly career A
mad bull. or a lion. or a fire-breath-
ing dragon would have met the same
fate.
But three o'clock came. and Josce-
Ign did not. Two past three. Five
post. A tiny chill crept into Browns
hot breast.
Bet my watch Is fast" he told
himself.
Ten past. A quarter past. Brown
still gazed out into the empty, rain
flooded garden.
That's funnyI" he muttered.
What he meant was: My God
what's happened to herl"
At twenty past. he closed the door.
and went into the kitchen. There
was his little brown bag. just as he
had left 1t on his arrival. And inside
was the packet of tea.
Well-he might as well do some
thing. In fact. IL was desperately
terrible doing nothingl He spent ten
minutes making a fire. lodging out
every other moment to look out Of
the front door. and by a quarter TO
four a kettle Of water was nearly
boiling.
He waited till four. then made the
tea.
She'll come presently" he gulped.
silly to worry
He poured himself out a cup and
raised 1t to his lips. but the cup
chartered against his teeth. and he
lowered 1t again without drinking.
He regarded II with anxious dis
approval.
Whats the matter with your" he
complained.
A little while ago. he had been ex-
allied to heroic heights. Now he was
low. and depressed. Fancy his hand
shaking like that Then, all at once.
! he discovered that the shaking Of