Evening star., 1932-03-28
INsTALLMENT XIV.

~ YEAT woman?" demanded
n Martin. Heavens above
wv What on earth are you
v getting at now, May?"
How do I know
don't know who all of them are.
baroness or the actress or the countess
how should I know? It's nothing
but a misfortune having to do with
a man whom all the women run after.
One can't be sure Of ones own
sister,"
"Fut, May--on my solemn oath
after all. I've given yJu my word and
when / give my word 1 keep it. But
do you II agine, by any chance, that
you are making things easier for me?'
There YOU go! So it's l who make
things difficult fer YOU? I'm TO blame
for that as well. And yet l do what
e1er you ak"
you're as stupid sometimes, May,
as a child of 6. To starr with, I've got
worries. And then I'm often driven
half beside myself. I 60 nothing but
think about YOU day and night, and
you leave me to sizzle and simmer in
boiling oil. Often I'd like to see every
thing to blazes-"
What on earth are you talking about
now?"
What am I talking about? About
wanting you" Martin shouted. All the
pent-up sorrow and impassicned rage
of the past weeks came out as he sat
there with clenched fists and shouted
hoarsely, with anger in his face. Instant
" May was silent, and her lips closed.
Her hands moved: size scratched the
coarse mating that covered the diving
platform.
why didn't you tell me?" she asked
softly. in low voice. I'm yours, you
baby
"All?"
AL You can never lose me. You
have me for always"
"A nice always. In month you go
to Berlin and leave me planted here.
Then it will be nothing but Sumner
Irritation you had with a swimming In
structor," said Martin, tormenting him
self horribly.
''Oh. don't talk nonsense. You're
coming to Berlin in September for your
race. Perhaps before that you will
have had your famous letter you're al
ways talking about"
May" said Martin, becoming very
serious, tell me one thing. Do you
believe in me really? And that the let
ter will put everything right? Or are
you laughing at me?"
well. you've never told me anything
very definite about it. SO what is there
to believe in particularly? l don't
know in the least what it's all about
''I can't tell you all. Nav. You're
only big grown-up girl and spoiled
one, too-a princess with your motor
car and silver shoes. Your Tat Is a
king in his way, and you are well,
there it is 1 can't talk to you about
my affairs. How could ever explain
to yoi what money troubles are? Can
you imagine, May. can you imagine
what 1t is to be hungry, really hungry,
so that you have a pain in the stomach
and have to swallow all the time as If
you had crarp in the throat? And
your head goes light, and you see moth
ing before your eyes but roast meat, as
If you were dog"
Have you been hungry?" May asked
quickly.
And as quickly Martin replied: mo,
never"
Nav put her hands carefully over
Martins hand that gripped the edge
Ct the plank Just tell me only
tel me y she said softly.
A moment went by, ana then Mar
tin NODDED his head "Yes. I've been
h''~9r-." he answered almost inaudibly.
My dear, my dear" whispered May.
"JTet tell me ="
Well, I know a woman, for example,
LADY, really. Her husband was gov
ernr ent official. and he died before her
ctil7 was born. She has had to get
s'ong on her pension ever since with
TIE boy on her hands She's an old
LAZY now. and her pension is 80 schill-
ings a month Her sen Is out of a
job. Can you imagine anything like
that, May? How DO you think such
people exist?"
''Yes, yes. go on >"
There are people who have no villa