Evening star., 1934-07-29

nly leaned forward. "I say, speaking of
Ia, there's another rara avis down In the
her house. / passed him on my way in.
hobart What is he doing here? He isn't
nd of yours, / hope"
Aas spared answering. They were in
bted by two other guests, who chose that
int to admire Albert. The dachshund's
ete indifference to their caresses soon
D them. as did AIMS oddly pale, peaked
and they walked on. The air in the
b was almost unbearably close now. 1t
brown darker; the sun was gone, and the
vas covered with a sheet of thick gray
bats wrong with-with Mr. Hobart?" she
hats wrong with you9" asked Hugh.
be heat getting you, Ann? Maybe we'd
go inside"
sit here" They settled on a bench.
me about-is he friend of yours?"
rdly. But I've known him for years.
ere at school together He was the only
nasty boy I've ever known. He didn't
bw it, either. Look at the sky, Ann. It's
g heavy as lead. It's going to rain"
hat did he do?" Her voice was quiet,
rather not go into it,"
u me. It's interesting"
is, for fact. Well, he was subtle little
Evil. At the age of II he had even dis
kd that mental torture can be as madden-
5 physical torture. A few years ago he
u in Africa and stirred up a lot Of
e among the natives, mistreating them,
ularly the native women. The thing al
became an international issue. 1t was
ID up and the authorities forced him to
the country. I was in johannesburg
on an engineering job and the story Of
Hobart was common gossip. He always
about with q whip, they said
hd then what?" AIMS head had stopped
tng.
don't know. The last I heard of him
hs back in the States and married I'm
for the girl, whoever she is She's prob
dead and buried by now, or else Willing
athe sunny hours in some padded cell.
t was awfully bright, too, and not un-
ktive."
eh took drink from the tall glass and
down on the gravel walk. well, that
lovely tale, my darling. Shall tell you
my last operation, Mrs Schultz? Or
murder?" He looked up at the clouds.
never seen such a sky-purple and gray
ked and yellow all at once How the rain
ng to come down in about three minutesI
how the earth will welcome it,
aey sat on; Hugh was thinking how deep
moved him. And Ann was thinking II
Hobart once. Have changed? Or has
hole world changed?"
hnching footsteps on the gravel walk
b and Bill Hobart stood before them.
hooked up and the clutch of terror that
have torn at her heart was not there.
lilo, Bill" she said
lilo. It's hot as bIazes"
stter than Africa?" she asked Hugh on
bet, stared amazed. Ann was more aware
ugh than she was of Bill-Bill, the man
pnce had been able to shut out the whole
is Bill Hobart, who used to be my
md"
ther of the men spoke, but Hobart's foot
Entered one of the glasses that stood in
#ravel path. Irritated. he kicked it away
|in a naughty boy. aren't you?" said Ann.
put her hand into Hugh's. Its Begin
to rain. You'd better get indoors, Bill ;"
hand still in his, she drew Hugh down
&ath. Her heart was beating furiously. but
bad not been afraid of Bill How could
Ter have loved him, that evil, gangling
with his twisted bps?
rain was falling more heavily. From
bintS Hulda's guests rushed to the house
aAnn and Hugh headed for the Summer
on the west terrace. They arrived
he'd and painting and turned to watch the
l. The air was sweet with the smell of
in." said Hugh. my darling You were
led to that"
& mt it silly?" she said The rain, the
erful healing rain. Hugh, two months
could have heard that story and not
ed it, But know 1t is true I wonder
it would have been like, meeting him
if you hadn't told me? You see. Hugh
been loving an image in my heart, and
int it was Bill. Today looked at it
y, and, oh darhngl it looks so much, So
much like you"
ert. running courageously through the
found them some minutes later. But they
ed with such very regrettable lack
gnity. kissing each other 50 very often.