The Washington times., 1935-05-07

shas zigzagging their slow ap-
proach, and then the house
door flung wide and a glare Of
light almost binding them.
On tables, along both sides Of
the hall, were rows of the COM
pany's little lamps. And there,
in a purple silk gown and short,
sleeveless, filigreed black silk
top-garment, stood Kin.
How unusual to have such
service here in the wilderness"
said the directors wife. Your
boy would grace a diplomats
table. What culture these peo-
pie have! How much more
poise that boy of yours has
than we have, for instance. I
simply adore their culture. No
wonder sometimes they are a
little rude to US.
Stephen was fidgeting. He
always hated conversation like
this. What right has the di-
rector'S wife to talk so glibly?
He got up hastily, and passed
the cigars to the director.
Hester, seeing Stephens look
of irritation, knowing that be-
cause of his growing lack Of
social awareness, he was apt to
break out and show Scorn of
Mrs. Swaley's opinions, hurried
ly said the first thing that
came into her head. do take
one. Stephen got them espe-
cially for you"
Another Move
The director laughed, a mel
low warm laugh. How naive,
how unworldly was this couple.
Telling him the cigars were
especially for him. Or was
there more to it? Those two
rows of the company's lamps
down the hall. Was the young
fellow trying to remind him of
his part in those lamps? More
designing, perhaps, than he
thought. Aloud he said:
my dear young woman. OF
course I'll take one of your
Stephens cigars. He's a fine
fellow. I'm going to give him
a chance to show what he's
made Of. Mustn't let us old
fellows have all the plums.'
InWardly, he congratulated
himself on his penetration.
The directors party left next
day at noon; the valet, the pri-
vate secretary, the Shanghai
manager, Director Swaley and
his wife. A shortened line of
rickshas returned from the sta
ton. Elation and trouble sat
on Stephens brow.
Hester" he began, as soon
as they were alone, "I've got
my chance"
mot really!" cried Hester.
Eyes, but I'm afraid it's 60
ing to be hard on you. Shall
you mind? I'm to open one Of
the new Substations. We Shan't
be in a white mans town, as
we are here. But if I make
good, the director says"
It was only after he had
gone that there came back to
her that first impression of the
company. She had seen so
many of the tireless hands, but
the face, the face was still hid
den.
Late that afternoon, the boss
called Stephen into his office.
cts all against my recon-
mendation," he burst out. IT
advised them to send you to
Hardin. Pretty big substation,
but you're up to it., I didn't
tell them so, but there'd be
music in Hardin for that wife
of yours. Russians always have
music. They're sending your
friend, Kendall, that we're
always hearing about, to Har-
bin instead. This place you're
coming to. kind of lonesome
for your wife, but anyway she'll
have you at home. Guess she's
resented the travel a little
lately. Well, you'd better get
off as soon as you can"
And Stephen, knowing he
and Hester would need Kin in
a new town, was glad Hester
had said nothing about dis
missing him.
To Be Continued
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