Evening star., 1936-01-21


they're washed and cleaned, scaled,
headed and washed again let's
forget Neuman." He pulled at her
arm. and Anne. smiling at the two
high booted fishermen who stood
waiting to learn the total Of their
catch, moved on.
4 "Sharlee was at the office when I
drove in," Rob went on, "she invited
me up to dinner with the family"
How did she know We were In
town?"
Seems your father telephoned Lee
at some unearthly hour last night.
As you folks haven't a car here, sup
pose we all drive up from the hotel
in mine?"
"All right" Anne paused, because
they had entered the cannery proper,
great silver gray room where
machinery whirled and roared. She
watched as a huge fish went into an
''iron chink" to reappear severed IN
sections.
will there be any one there, ex-
cepting us?" she asked as they
moved on.
'Just the Farleys."
Anne hoped her quick grimace OF
distaste hadn't been observed by
Rob. She turned quickly to where a
woman in a green and gray uniform
watched a machine which deity took
a nat piece of tin, cut it, twirled 1t
into a cylinder and passed it on.
Here's how they're packed
droned Rob, in a fiat, uninterested
voice.
They had paused beside another
machine which was carrying empty
cans along a groove. filling them with
matched sections of fish. and passing
them on. The woman who guarded
this glanced up as they stopped, and
suddenly her serious stolid expression
changed to one of radiant recognition.
''Nikki," she cried, looking at Anne.
''You must be mistaken" Anne
paused. Nikki, the name strummed
at some dim chord of memory.
"Nikki!" repeated Anne, then
"Of course, that's what my nurse
used to call me-" She looked at the
woman a second time. then i'm
pulsively rushed into the waiting
arms.
Rob-" she cried. this is Tecla,
Tecla Sorki, who took care of me the
first six years of my life. It's been
ages since I've seen you, Tecla, not
since I was 10. What are you doing
here?"
Tecla Sorki's face lost its radiance
as the mild blue eyes encountered
those of Rob Crocker. Il work." she
answered stolidly You will stay in
Astoria for a while?" she asked
"A couple of days at least" Anne
answered, we're stopping at the
hotel. You'll come up and see me,
won't you?"
"Yes," agreed the woman. Maybe
I tell you some more stories," she
added, and Anne noticed the blue
eyes were twinkling with mischief.
will you? I've never forgotten
those you used to tell. Remember
Anne. well have to hurry" Roo
3nterposed.
Il know" she agreed. Then to
Mrs. Sorki, when will you come up?
Tonight I'm going to have to go to
the Lee Farnsworths for dinner"
YES" nodded Tecla, my Nina,
she waits t'table there, tonight"
I'll be glad to see her. and Orvi,
how is he? You know, Rob, her son
Orvi was only two months older than
/ and he used to boss me"
Anne" Rob caught her elbow in
q firm grip, If you intend to make
the rounds of the cannery and return
to the hotel in time to dress"
"All right" Anne jerked away
from his arm. "Tecla, I'll be looking
for you," she said, and moved away.
As soon as they were out Of hear
ing she turned to her fiance, Rob,
what on earth possesses you, today?"
she asked.
If you mean why didn't I want
you standing there getting chummy
with q cannery worker, I'll explain.
There is such q thing as morale
among the workers and 1t can't be
maintained at its impersonal stand
ard Of efficiency If the owners
daughter is going to rush into the
arms Of the first person she recog-
nizes."
Anne stopped and turned towards
Rob Croker, her dark eyes steady as
they surveyed him.
"You snob," she said, and walked
away: walked blindly away towards
the first exit she saw, and not until
she had passed through and found
the gale whipping her jacket about
her did she realize she was on the
narrow ledge which ran along the
western side Of the cannery.
As troubled as the waters which
Swirled below her, she stared down
1t them. What was the matter with
Rob, with her father, with every
body? They all seemed to be ready
TO snap at the slightest provocation.
Could 1t be that there was trouble
brewing between her father and her
fiance? Luke had certainly been un-
pleasantly surprised at finding Rob
In Astoria. He hadn't felt full con-
3idence in Rob, or he would have told
MIN his destination, and wouldn't
have warned her to say nothing of
their intention to visit the fish traps.
Anne" Rob had wheeled through
the door and was holding her in his
arms. "Anne, dear. forgive me. I've
been upset all day. Everything's
zone wrong. First, Yvonne. calls me