Evening star., 1932-05-22
CHAPTER xxx.
GOING HOME.

1@HE circle was closing. Once again
the kaleidoscope was falllng
into the old pattern Coioreo
Il glass crumbnng shlIU-
ing. .
The Jade and gilt and ultramarines
Of the Orient turning slowly to the neu-
trail tints of Riverton.
At Bordeaux they took steamer -or
New York Shortly after Rogers death
Joyce and Kitty had had a serious niue
talk. 1t was brought about when joyce
discovered that Kitty was making plans
for entering some hospital when they
arrived in the States.
"Kitty-you aren't thinking OF leaV-
ing mel ~ d - mo
now, JOY. 1t was different Wnen you
needed a nurse on the Job. But now
well you just don't need me.
Il never needed oScas E0g worse yoice teap broke o
"You're my only friend"
III always be that, Joyce-a frleno.
But 1 have to feel I'm earning my own
way"
but everything will be the same.
There's so much money-anything you
want, Kitty-Roger would want it that
way"
"You can't pay person for just be
ing friend" Kitty'S sturdy lnQe-
pendence would not be dOwned.
"Oh, Kitty. Kitty-don't leave me:
=. =" Joyce broke down and cried,
feel so alone.
For a moment Kitty stood, looking at
the slender shaking figure. Joyce was
in dress of dull moss green crepe. she
had refused to consider mourning.
Roger loved color. . She wore color
for his memory now. Kitty noticed how
thin she had grown. There was an
ethereal quality of her beauty, tinge
of WistfulneSs.
Finally, after an inward struggle, I'll
tell you, Joy, I'll go if you'll let me act
as your maid. I've got to feel that I'm
earning my way"
The girl made little helpless ges-
ture Say my companion, Kitty. You
can be that to the world. To me you're
the only true friend I've ever known
They were known as that on the
steamer which took them to America.
Young Mrs. Cameron and her compan-
ion, Miss Dawson. And one pair OF
eyes saw it on the list Of passengers
and came beaming to renew old &C
Quaintance-Joyce was both surprised
and dismayed to find herself confronted
with the stocky figure and sandy mus
tache of DR.. McManus.
MRS. Cameron-what a delightful
surprise to find you are sailing with
usr He flashed his glasses at her IN
a way which she remembered as char
acteristic. so sorry to learn about Mr.
Can eron foregone conclusion
though, of course-marvel he kept go
ing 20 long. All, well-and Miss
Dawson! A real pleasure"
The doctors beam at Kitty was bit
artificial They had clashed several
times on their last acquaintance.
What a surprise to find you here
on this ship, doctor" said Joyce. When
did you leave the Neptune?"
THE R. g. N. Steamship Line was
cold a couple of months ago. trans
ferred to this one"
"The captain retired. He'd been
meaning to do that for a couple OF
yeerS, you know. He is living with his
mariied daughter in Yokohama. ="
bluntIy. asking the question that she
Enew vas faltering in Joyce's mind.
What became of him?"
A stiffness in the doctors pudgy
figure at the mention of his old enemy.
''1Fr. Keith left the line several months
heto-e it was sold He said something
sb7ut g7ing into stock raising-or rals-
ing thoroughbred horses or some such
thirg-the.e was q friend Of his-beefy
old Englishman came down to see him
several times when We docked in San
Francisco who did lot of talking about
a stock range-I didn't listen Per
sona'ly, believe the Honorable Jim was
asked to resign-not that I'd want that
to go any further or TO be quoted. you
know but it wouldn't surprise me
If that wasn't the reason why he quit.
A fool about women"
Nov the Lord give me strength"
said Kitty piously after the doctor had
left, following his tubby shadow down
the white secured deck, ito keep from
steppin' on that little shrimp If there's
ANYTHING can't stand its a he gossip!"