Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18

moved DdCK. quick as a uaSn lneIna ran De-
tween the two men.
Don't you hit him." she shreked
You little FOOL" Mats words harsh
as they came through clenched teeth I'm not
going 10 hurt him"
His words seemed to reassure Richardson.
Ihrusting Thelma aside, he faced Matt.
We'll, what are you going to do about it?"
"Plenty-but first you get out and get out
quick" retorted Matt, his voice rising to an
angry pitch.
But" began Richardson
You get out, do you hear me? III settle
this affair in my own way"
r ICHARDSON looked intently at Thelma as
if waiting for her to say something. She
did not look at him. but stood nervously pulling
at the handkerchief crumpled in her hand
With e shrug of his shoulders. Richardson made
his way to the door. At the threshold he looked
back Matt had raised the shade and was
staring with unseeing eyes into the darkness.
Il say, Carlisle :" faltered Richardson
Matt turned quickly. He still held the for
gotten box of candy in his hand. The sight OF
Richardson Infatuated him. Before he realized
what he was doing, he had thrown the box at
Richardson's head.
His aim was entirely accurate The box hit
him just above the ear The door shut with a
bang and they heard him running down the
steps as if he were afraid Matt might decide to
follow him. The remembrance of his undigni-
fed exit, the Redeemed ear and rumpled place
in his sleek hair brought grim smile to Mats
lips.
Suddenly Mats expression changed. look
of eagerness began to obliterate the lines of
anger and establishment. He fastened to the
telephone and dialed Mr.. Blanford's home Yes
Mr. Blanford was in.
Hello, Mr.. Blanford This is Carlisle Yes
came by to see you tonight, but couldn't wait.
Just calling you now to say that I've decided
to take the Yucatan post. What? Yes, can
get a sailing Saturday. Inquired about that this
afternoon. See you tomorrow, then. Thanks"
He snapped the receiver back on the hook.
His eyes spied Thelma, who had thrown
herself on the divan muffling her Sobs with
a pillow. Matt sat in chair and stared mood
lily at the floor. After time Thelma's sobs
ceased and she glanched shyly at him. Could
she work around him as she had always been
able to do before? His silence terrified her.
1t was more ominous than his fury
Il guess we're going to Yucatan after ALL"
she Ventured timidly.
Matt slowly crushed his half-Smoked cigarette
before he answered Eyes and no. I'm going,
but you can't afford to go down there. Too
many mosquitoes and natives. Besides, you
have more interests here
Three days later Matthew Carlisle stood at
the -ail of steamer and watched New Yorks
skyline slowly recede until at last it looked like
a toy city at the far edge of the world. What
a little place it was, after all He had strange
sense of freedom, detached feeling as though
he were merely bystander watching life ebb
and flow about him. 1t gave him deep sense
of peace which followed him through the sue
ceeding days the boat nosed its way toward
the Equator and each new dawn brought softer
winds and warmer sun. Matt spent most of
his time pacing the decks revelling in the gen.
tier air, enjoying to the fullest his new-found
freedom.
One day as Matt rounded a corner at his
Aus.l
buried his face in his coat collar and hurried
off without word. He did not even wait for
Mats apology
Matt watched the retreating figure in amaze
ment Queer duck he thought, must be deaf
and dumb maybe dopey. He's the one I've
been seeing around here for the past four or
five days. Always disappearing around the
ner or ducking into some place. Come to think
of it, there's something vaguely familiar about
him Wonder where I've seen him before
A LII through the day Matt sought his man,
but as before when he CHANGED to get q
glimpse of him, he was disappearing in the dis
lance. He seemed to have an uncanny way of
finding places to duck into, and although Matt
reached those places but few minutes after
him, he never found his man. If I hadn't
bumped into him. I'd think he was an evil
spirit that followed the ship, he unused. Maybe
he's not so shy after dark. Theren be moon
tonight. Wonder where he eats, anyhow.
Haven't seen him in the dining room
That night Matt at his usual place by
the rail. The moon was gorgeous. It was too
beautiful to go to bed. He'd wait up and see
the sunrise. That would be a fitting climax
to his last day on board.
The sound of rapid footsteps coming toward
him broke his train OF thought. He glanced
behind him just in time TO see man stumble
over deck chair and fall, his coat spread out
like fan and his cap at Mats feet. Matt
picked up the cap and ran toward him. The