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

What are you going to do before
then?" he had asked.
4 shall motor back 10 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'clockl
And now 1t was three o'clock-or. TO
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.
Tea, 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, "I1l do 1t. Whatever
1t isl"
One minute to three. With absurd
earnestness, he counted on her
p~unctuality. as though she were a
train that would arrive according 10
schedule. Boldly he ran to the door,
unbolted IL, and threw IL open
A rush OF rain greeted him. The
noise surprised him. He had been
SO deep in thought. 70 wrapped In
his personal CONCENTRATIONS. that the
world outside had temporarily ceased
to exist: but now he became abrupt
" conscious Of 1t 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-
joiced in the heavy odds. since they
could only make her need Of him
the greater.
Brown had worked himself up into
J 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 funnyl" he muttered.
What he meant was: MY Cod
what's happened to heri"
NJ JWC1lty past. Alc ClQcGQ Tie QOOEs
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 we'll do some
thing. In fact. II 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 it TO his lips. but the cup
chartered against his teeth. and ne
lowered it again without drinking.
He regarded 1t with anxious dis
approval
whats the matter with you7" 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