The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-26

them all in humiliation.
They should not do that to
Stephen. Somehow, without tell
ing him, she must get him to re-
sign.
All the lights were on in the
room when Hester went in.
Stephen had the radio going
full strength. Noise! Light!
II tell you," he said, 1--WE
made up my mind. I'm going
to ask for the cushiest job there
is. Nice soft job. Got it all
picked out. Here in Shanghai.
The little old pay envelope is
the only thing that counts. I'll
not fail you, Hester. I'll get
safety for YOU"
stephen, you can't stay.
We've got to return. I went and
talked to him."
"You did what, Hester? I can
manage my own affairs. You'd
better tell me everything"
stephen, you've got to re-
sign!" she cried. YOU'RE to be
brought before them. He says
you had no business to be at
the tanks that night"
They're going to do what?"
Kendall says it was fool
hardy. It did the company
harm. Oh, Stephen" Hester
cried in anguished entreaty,
were you?"
A Clash
Hester, DEAR" he said, II
had no orders to get out. The
situation was getting worse all
over the valley. Why didn't
Kendall wire me to leave? I'll
tell you why. Because he
thought maybe I could save
things in a pinch. I'm not blam-
ing him. I'd probably do the
same. It was worth taking a
chance a lot was at stake.
And, Hester, I'd turned that
other mob-I might have turned
this one, too. If 1 had it to do
over again-even after what
happened-Id think there was
a chance. Suppose I'd succeed
ed .. =? What would Ken
dali say them"
You're right, dear. I'm
going to resign. Well have to
begin over. I can do it. Where
shall I find Kendall? Never
mind, I'll find him."
He found Kendall still work
ing over his car. He did not
look up, nor did Stephen speak.
Dave" Stephen said at last,
GIVE come to resign"
Kendall went on with his
work. you're talking rot,
Steve. Unless you've had a for.
tune left you Then, Of course,
I've nothing to say"
mo, no fortune. But I'm
resigning."
Kendall looked up now. "See
here, you're too thin-skinned.
It's only a question of being
down and the pack baying. You
can show them. Take this job
I'll give you. Haven't been able
to speak until today. It isn't
so much to start with. -"
eyes, take it," Stephen broke
in, bitterness creeping into his
tone. "And when the next
emergency comes, and I leave
instead of staying as 7 did this
time, it will be much easier for
you. You can call me yellow.
No. I'll leave now when you
can only call me "foolhardy.'"
Hester, waiting in the quiet
room, could hear their voices be.
low, but not what they said. The
minutes passed. The fight ahead
could Stephen make it? Amer
lea seemed so strange. Shabby
struggle, ugly. Panic began set
ting over her.
She looked up. There was
Stephen, the old reliable Stephen
to lean upon.
stephen, 7 must tell you
something. II you hadn't been
SO absorbed" she cried out des-
perately, you'd have known.
It's what you've wanted, q
child"
"Oh, my dear!" He could say
no more. AS he gathered Hester
into his embrace, like strong
wings, she felt his tenderness
closing round her to shelter her.
Now he knew that freedom
was a luxury he could not afford.
Forty! He was over the dead
line. Hester must have security,
and his child must have security.
At last he spoke. after all,
dear, what does it matter? It's
the money that counts" And,
after a pause, "I'll have to go
back into the interior. It's no
place for women. The best thing
is to have you go home. You'll
have good doctors and good
care"
In the night Hester woke. She
was sitting up in bed, feeling
that Stephen had called her,
that for long time he had been
calling her, in dry, hard Sobs.
She listened, but there was no
sound. It seemed almost as If
Stephen held his breath.
Did you call me, Stephen"
mo, dear"