The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-25

they have found Stephen.
Kendall turned to here "He's
on the British gunboat, Mrs.
Chase. Pretty badly burned,
but nothing dangerous. Oil
from the tank sprayed him.
Haven't any more details.
They're coming down now as
fast as they can"
Hester felt the earth Keeling
in it's course, and the terror
long held back moved forward.
AS she moved in a daze
through the corridors, men
crowded about her, coming out
Of every office, shaking her
hand. Men she didn't know
the personnel man, assistant
managers, accountantS-inSisted
on shaking her hand. Strangers
saying, Chase is a hero"
It was then that Stephens
child for the first time moved
within her. She was the proud
bearer of his child.
The evening paper carried
Chase's name in the headlines.
The news was flashed to
America.
It was a week later. The
afternoon was fading into dusk.
Hester stood with Kendall on
the pontoon, waiting with other
wives and other heads of firms,
most of them British. 1.-THE
boats late" someone said. "Ah,
there she isl"
Presently Hester found her.
self going forward with Kendall
through a lane made by the
parting crowd. Four sailors
came ashore, carrying a
Stretcher. She looked down at
Stephen, a strange Stephen.
Kendall reached out his hand
and shook the ends of Stephens
fingers extending beyond the
bandaGeS bound around his
right hand.
Don't talk now. Well settle
everything later"
Then he vanished into the
crowd. Hester was thankful he
had left them. When they were
alone, shut off to themselves
in the changing ambulance,
Stephen spoke:
cts all right now, isn't it?
I've done this thing they asked
me to do. I've made good. And
I'm back soon, as I said I'd be-"
ooh, Stephen!"
CHAPTER 81
The violence started that
night in Hos city spread down
the river, and the Green Valley
was all but closed to foreign
trade. Shanghai was crowded to
its capacity.
It was two weeks since that
evening. Each day since they
had been in this house, their
position in the Company seemed
to have dwindled, as if the
house had absorbed it. The
heroic figure of Stephen Chase
the Company men had so
spontaneously lifted up that
day of his rescue, slowly but
surely was disappearing. At
first the change was nothing.
Inducements
Hadn't Stephen torn down a
lot of buildings? Suddenly
Stephen seemed to be the
topic of conversation. Every
thing he had done in the Com
pany being rehearsed, as it
would have been if he were a
man Of Importance, only not
credible things; things that
raised a question. Shipped a
lot Of tin plate once without
orders. Everybody seemed sud-
denly interested in a tale about
a young griffin caught in the
midst of fighting. Had Stephen
riSked his men? And wasn't
there a loss Of money at a time
Of looting?
Until Kin came to Hester,
saying he must leave, making
the excuse that he was an old
man, she had fought to make
herself believe that her own
sensitive condition was giving
her this impression Of Stephens
diminishing position.
She was in panic, feeling a
lifetime Of effort crumbling
away. Did Stephen know? If
only Kendall would give him the
place which had been promised
him in the Company!
One afternoon she had es-
capped from the house, trying to
elude something fri ghtening
that dwelt there. She was hurry.
ing along, the tears burning be-
hind her eyeballs, when she met
Creighton.
Why, TON Creighton" she
managed to say lightly, "your
station closed, too?"
1T is, so far as I'm con-
cerned."
what do you mean?" asked
Hester.
1--WE resigned"
"But, but, the children! Why,
you said -"
eyes, I know. I won't let you
think I'm a coward about being
in the interior. don't mind
danger, it's not that. The COM
pany'S getting rid of its men,
but it's living up to its reputa-
ton Of never firing an old and
reliable servant-lesS you fire
yourself. Cheaper, too, you know.
Fortunately I can afford to do
IT, Inst had q letter. that that