Evening star., 1936-08-26
INSTALLMENT XVIII.

hailed them ana tnat young woman
appeared, with Gene strolling at her
side.
1T wondered where you two had
eotten to-" Claire greeted them. "The
others started on some time ago. I've
been playing a machine with Genes
nickels and just exhausted the supply.
Well loaf along with you . if you're
headed back to the house"
1--WE are" Joan said at once.
Deeds fancied there was relief in
her tones. 1t was just as well at that.
It would look as if the four Of them
had been lettering together. They
walked along, chatting idly, until the
cottage was reached.
How would you folks like to take
little ride down the road?" Gene sug-
gested as they neared the porch. "If
two OF you don't mind squeezing in
behind"
Thank you; I must go in," Joan
said quietly THE rest of you CO."
Not l." Claire announced. "I over
stepped all fasting bounds tonight
There are some strings that need to be
loosened," she added frankly. Take
Deeds with you, Gene. He hasn't seen
much of the country around here.
There'u be a moon later"
Like to?" Gene turned to Deeds.
Every much"
"Come along then. :. Well see if
the bus is in running order"
A few moments later they were
rolling along the highway in south
erly direction.
I'VE might drop down as far as
Harbor Gate" Gene observed, 'if
y you've never been there. Not much to
see nice beach and one of the
best pavilions around here. Fair Or
chestra as a rule"
Fine"
Deeds was glad that his companion
was not inclined to talk during the 10
mile drive. He was busy with his own
thoughts-of the past few hours. And
Joan.
He wished she were by his side now.
Just the two of them he at the
wheel, stealing an occasional glance
at her. He could almost see Joan
leaning back against the cushions, the
wind in her hair. And here was the
moon lifting up out of the sea .
sending a glittering path across the
restless water. Something in the
beauty of the picture brought pang
of loneliness. He always would want
to share beautiful things with Joan
80. no one else. He was in love with
her even if she didn't care. But
she had said it would be easy" to
care. She hadn't intended to let him
know But it was true. And the
thought of it set his heart to beating.
Joan.
CASTOR parked the car on a public
lot and the two men strolled through
the crowds, watching the passersby
idly. The usual crowd. The usual
raucous cries of barkers. The usual
odors :. popcorn, hot dogs. A red
coated jazz orchestra in the pavilion,
lights and streamers. A huge polished
floor with couples shuff1ing about,
half running, walking slowly, weav-
ing.
What do you say we get out of this
mess?" Gene queried abruptly. "Un-
less you'd like to try to pick up some
body for dance. Sometimes you
can"
mot for me. I'd rather beat it if
you don't mind"
Then let's go down on the sand
and have a smoke"
Suits me-"
1t more than suited Deeds to be
apart from the crowd. The music, at
this distance, was reStful. The babel of
voices reduced to murmur. And
CASTOR didn't seem inclined to talk.
Instead he sat with his arms hugging
his knees, looking out on the water,
pulling meditatively on his pipe.
after long silence:
Does the water all this d. :.
do things to you, McCune?"
What sort of things?"
"Oh, I don't know . not depress-
ing exactly. I guess it's the bigness
of it if you know what I mean.
AS far as time counts, that same
ocean has always been there like it is
now. Restless, but solid. 1t makes
you wonder sometimes what it thinks
of the human bugs that scuttle around
on the shore as if nothing mattered
but them. If they go floating about
on chips, the sea isn't bothered. When
you look at it that way, the oceans
rather restful. It's one thing that
doesn't change"
YES" Deeds admitted slowly, "I
think I know what you mean. It
makes fellow see how insignificant
he is after ALL"
He regarded CASTOR curiously. The
moon was shining full on his COM
panion's face, Illuminating his fea-
lures In sharp detail. 1t might have
been the shadows, but Genes face
suddenly looked sunken. His eyes ap-
peared somber, dreamy. He seemed
to have shed his usual air of indolent
self possession. There had been a
touch of something approaching visit
,fulness in his last words.
When he spoke again it was hesi-
statingly.
Its queer. I guess it IS in
Seignificance. Makes you wonder how
much is worth while, If anything. It's
all over so damnably quick. Maybe a
fellow is entitled to the easy outs =. i.
1t he can get them. Ever think of it?"
"Sure." Deeds was growing more
and more puzzled. CASTOR was about
the last one he would expect
to turn philosophic. Must be he
was a sort of fatalist, or some
thing. you're right" he conceded,
IF you want to look at it that way.
But most of the uplifters try to make
us think it's an adventure. Pep
stuff make the world better, and
oil that sort of thing. I suppose that's
. good slant, seeing we're here and
have to make the best of it. It's as
good an existence as I've tackled to
date" he finished whimsically.
II know" Gene unused. "I guess it
depends on the start you get. think
you were born to be busy i. sort Of