Evening star., 1933-03-29

small, WHY man, WnCSe hdlr was Al
ready beginning to 60 gray. His face
bore the fixed, artificial smile meant
for the camera. It did not exactly suit
his sharp, ugly but wise expression, to
which he owed the nickname Fred
acter." Veith wispered And Thomas
remembered that this was his high
est commendation for manly virtues.
The captain greeted Veith most
cordially. and let him tell his sad tale
about chronic appendicitis.
TOO bad" he said. Il had lot Of
news for you. And we shall have most
interesting trip with all these Amer
leans"
Tell it all to my friend, Thomas.
He has a miraculous memory, and
will hear all about it when we meet
again. And besides, be as nice to him
as you can, for he is one Of the best
lads in the world. Today maybe he's
saved my life. And keep him away from
gold diggers,' If you have shipped any"
do you happen to be married?"
asked the captain.
Thomas felt the blood rising to his
face. Yes" he said. and Immediately
regretted 1t. What would he say If he
were asked where his wife was?
But no one asked Thomas about his
wife. The captain was called away, and
Veith took Thomas by the arm and
headquarters"
He was at home on the Columbia;
while he led Thomas three flights Of
stairs down to c Deck, he shook count
less hands.
He did not seem to notice that his
friend was acting quite differently from
other people who for the first time found
themselves on floating giant Of the
Columbia's magnificence. Thomas ut
tered no cries of astonishment, put no
questions, but kept constantly looking
about him: he was absent-minded and
completely silent. On three occasions
ne imagined that he saw Sybil and
Shortwell among the crowds of curiosity
seekers on the upper deck: now as they
we're passing along the corridors between
the passenger cabins he thought he
heard her voice behind every door.
One Of these doors bore the inscrip-
ton: Doctor. They entered.
You will be even more comfortable
here than the luxury cabin passengers, '"
said Veith. You have o living room
with bath and a working room as well.
Here Is your consultation room and lab
oratory. We have three isolation wardl,
with their own kitchen and service-but
you are not listening to me?"
"Oh. yes, yes. I am" Thomas with q
sort of start pulled himself together.
Every morning" Veith continued,
you have to make the rounds Of the
whole ship. That Is one Of your duties.
Usually 1t does not mean much more
than merely saying Good morning to
De has 70 Ia "
round at once, even before dinner. Then
you will have learned your way about
the ship
You are not missing the tender?"
asked Thomas. for he could hardly wait
for the moment when he would be
alone to be able to pursue his hearts
pre-occupation.
mo danger. Before then there will
be a great hullabaloo Of whistles. etc.
Here is your medicine cabinet. And
here on the left"-Veith opened the
door to the adjoining cabin-"is your
operating room. Of course for minor op-
erations only. The real operating thea
ter is in the hospital" They
crossed the threshold. "Oh. and this
is Sister Martha, known as the 'hoat-
ing sister,"
Between the operating table and a
q
costume. cleaning test-tube. Two
strands of smooth blond hair showed
from beneath her headdress and en-
circleA thin, deeply tanned face. She
was perhaps 80 years old and might
have been very pretty had her eyes
and lips possessed more color. With
he- slenderness, Sister Martha might
have looked like an athletic girl In
perfect training, instead Of like an
escetic nun.
Veith was delighted. for Tommy
would now have the best possible COM
panionship" But he was rather sur
prised to meet Sister Martha on this
line Weren't you at one time with
the East India Ltne?"
II am not going to the tropics any
more" said Sister Martha. The last
time came home with fever"
At this moment the great hullabAloo"
sounded through the ship; floors and
Veith kissed the sisters hand and
drew Thomas out into the corridor
Come down with me. It's only one
fiight-I want to tell you about Sister
Martha-or. rather, want you to tell
me when you get back il you have
discovered her secret: I have not been
able to. All I know is that for seven
years she has ceaselessly sailed the
seven seas She Is nowhere at home.
Whatever the journeys end, she always
stays on board: at most she goes
ashore for a couple Of hours to make
a few purchases
She is a perfect nurse, sensible, de-
pendable and devoted and in no way
an uncomfortable personality. You can
now and then have game Of cards
with her or shuffleboard she will drink
up to two or three glasses Of cognac-
but she simply will not hear of love.
On her various ships she has had
more offers Of marriage than another
woman gets in seven seasons OF dances
and balls. She obviously has no de-
sire for a home Of her own Odd with
a woman-isn't it? And she is COM
pletely Indifferent to men and all that
sort of thing"
They had gone down the stairs to T
deck and caught sight of the deck Of
the tender through an open double
door, over the heads Of the departing
throng
Tommy" Veith suddenly said very
gently, II don't know why you want to
sail on the Columbia. I don't know
what you are looking for on her and
what you are all the time thinking
about. But I know that under all cir
cumstances-" He hemmed, hunting
for particularly tactful words. but did
not find them
II shall always do my duty" Thomas
said. expressing the unspoken thought
for him. and flushed deep red.
"Of course you will; know that.
i" Veith coughed in his embar-
rassment and under the stress Of his
emotion. He wrung his friends hand
so hard that 1t hurt.
"Oh, the devil! haven't done any
thing but talk about myself all the
time, and didn't quite know how to
ask about you, and now The last
passengers were stumbling across the
gangway. Nov I can only wish you
good luck" he concluded and stumbled
after them.
Thomas followed his broad back with
his eyes for a few seconds. then the
gangway was raised and the double
door shut.
Thomas was alone. For a short time
4