Evening star., 1933-04-05

probation Of the gems beauty. But
after pause he put the gem back In
its case, and said, "No, not roy. Later
perhaps. Not now"
Hes difficult customer" mumbled
Mr.. Exl, while Stephanson was finish
ing dressing in the bath room. He was
very disappointed, for he had reckoned
on a quick stroke Of business. And
he's up to his neck in love. He has
eyes only for Baroness Mergenthein.
But he's q difficult customer"
With q sigh he put the case in his
pocket, and disappeared.
Don't think I'm stingy," said
Stephanson when he re-entered en-
tirely In white. 1--WE given much more
valuable presents to women who tenn
porarily interested me, either to get
them, or else to get rid Of them again.
Had 1t been merely dancer who might
have amused me on this boring trip
I would have been only too pleased to
buy her 'Rosy-star.' But 1t happened
to be Baroness Mergentheim"
DO you think she would accept the
gem?" asked Thomas.
MY dear young man-it is expecting
a great deal Of woman, even one Of
aristocratic birth. not to accept a gem
like that. And 1t 1t expecting even
more not to succeed in bribing her with
such q gift. My dear Doctor, during
the past score Of years have bribed
members Of Congress, ministers, diplo-
matists, even whole governments and
entire political parties. Do you imagine
1 have the slightest doubt about the
compatibility Of woman-even II she
is of the finestp" After q pause, he
added, II have no intention Of bribing
Baroness Mergentheim" Thomas left.
1t was still little early to knock at
Frederike's door, but Thomas decided,
nevertheless. to do so.
Suddenly he stood still as II petri-
fed. Any one who had seen him stand
ing thus, trembling from head to foot,
IN the empty corridor, with wide, star
ing eyes fixed upon two pairs Of shoes.
would have thought him mad.
Two pairs Of shoes. One pair a
mans box calf: the other a small,
black pair of woman's shoes. There was
nothing particularly striking about
these shoes. There were other shoes,
large and small, brown and black, in
front Of other cabin doors. But now he
stood still and stared at these two
pairs as though they were ghosts.
For they stood In front Of cabins 35
and SO.
Yesterday both these cabins had been
empty. "The lady Is not on board, nor
the gentleman next door, either" the
stewardess had said.
Perhaps some one else had moved
into the cabin; perhaps it had not been
Sybil at all who had set the shoes in
front Of the door. He did not recog-
nize the shoes. He bent down and took
up one Of the delicate objects. The in
side was lined with white satin, and on
it was printed In golden letters a Paris
shops name and address.
No, Thomas certainly had never seen
Sybil wear this shoe. It was, besides, a
brand-new shoe, showing no trace Of
wear. It looked as though it had only
been bought yesterday.
simple and perfectly clear to Thomas.
At Cherbourg-of course, Sybil and
Shortwell had come aboard ut Cher
bourg, after midnight, while he was
looking after old Mrs. Weber. The
reservations had been secured from
Berlin; then the two had travelled TO
Paris, presumably by airplane. So they
had gained a day, and this day they
had spent In buying toilet accessories
and the other things which a woman Of
elegance requires. They probably had
spent the evening In a Montmartre res
motored at top-speed to Cher
bourg, their heads still little hay |
with champagne
So that was Shortwell's method! He |
had rushed Sybil from one excitement |
to another, given her no peace, hardly |
allowed her to become conscious Of |
what she was doing.
Thomas felt himself growing as cold |
as ice with a wildly surging hatred. He
battled an almost insane impulse to
force his way into Sybils cabin that |
very instant he wanted to leave Boris
TO his fate, forget all about his duties.
What concern Of his were all these
strange people. while his whole personal
desires were concentrated upon some
one breathing, three PAGES away, sep
arated from him by q door only?
But he conquered the impulse. He
Knocked on Friederike's door.
Friederike opened it a crack, recog-
aised the doctor, and asked what he
wanted.
Boris Won Mergenthein, he said.
Is in . very bad state" Her noble,
lueenlike face remained Indifferent
md alien, as II he were telling her
lbout . stranger. your brother" he
Idded, needs you"
She threw . quick l0nk Of obvious
usssu& u him. "Hs u kobahly bored