New Britain herald., 1930-09-24
Chapter IS A WRECK OF A MAN

Kitty regarded askance the wan figure of Captain Vaneering slouch- ing on the lower deck rail.
 Fasting the booze again. she commented inelegantly. "Seasickness medicine, I suppose"
 Jack glowered down at them. He had cane, they could see, and one leg was strapped into an iron framework. His uniform was spick- and-span, but his face, even at this distance, showed bloated and spotty. There was strained look around his eyes. and his shoulders stopped as If they supported a weight too heavy for them. A hint of despera- ton in his bearing wrung Dagger's heart; but what hurt her most was the evidence of dissipation written broad across his features. No war shock, alone, there. He had been drinking heavily, in defiance to his promise to her.
 He looks very unwell,' MT. Van eering said thoughtfully.
 How could he look well, after what he's gone through" objected Mrs. Vaneering Poor, dear boy! He must have suffered agonies. We must all try to make him comfort able, Alexandra"
 If he'll let us," Dagger answered mechanically.
 Let us! Of course, he'll let us"
 Kitty muttered a phrase that in- n1, MT. Vaneering fluttered conciliat- ingly. Dagger took no further part in the conversation. Her mind was occupied by series of bitter re- factions during the interval of mak- ing the steamship fast. A promise, to her, was promise not to be lightly given, never to be evaded, much less broken; and she couldn't resist the conviction that she would be unable to respect a husband whose code was different.
 But when she glimpsed Jacks shambling bulk at the end of the gangplank, she managed to bar such thoughts from her mind, and mustered a cheery. smiling face. He arms were open for him as he planted a wobbly foot on the pier.
 "Darling!' She pretended brave ly. Its heavenly to kiss you. How's your poor knee?"
 Good enough" he answered, re- turning her kiss almost perfume torily. But don't lean on me, there's good girl. They've put this damn brace on me to keep my leg from shrinking. Where's mother?"
 Dagger waved hand toward the Vaneerings, and hoped nobody saw the sorrow in her eyes. But if Jack had been perfunctory with her, he was equally so with his family.
 But what he actually wanted, as Dagger suspected, what was at the back of his moodiness, was an op- portunity to drink unwatched. He : said as much as soon as they were alone.
 That promise I made you, Dag ger"
 "Yes?" she prompted.
 "Well, why don't you ask me about it?" he parked.
 Why should I, Jack" I'm your wife, not your persecutor. I don't intend to question you about any thing you've done or not done"
 Tt was crazy idea" he expld- ed aggressively. Silly. A man had to drink to stand the gaff of combat flying. Have you any con- oeption of what it meant?'
 Perhaps l haven't Dagger ad- mitted. "I asked you only because I knew-that is, I thought-you d be happier in the long run if you stayed sober"
 Happier" he sneered. "Td have been dead"
 You might not have been wounded" she pointed out.
 Blind luck---machine-g gun bullet from the ground-docsn't happen once in million tries. But other times-Why, I'd have done in, if I'd had to fly cold, You've got to be boiled up for that sort of thing above yourself"
 She said nothing, and after d while, he remarked:
 Not very glad to see me. are you? Disappointed. eh?"
 What would you say, Jack?"