Evening star., 1938-02-08
{(;88*'-

there and you're the only one here:
the others are down In Delhi 4
wasn't sure that I could That place
had been won after years of careful
planning and desperate fighting. 1t
strategically guarded the exit to one
OF the main passes in the mountains.
Think it over he went on. If any,
thing goes wrong out there the officer
commanding has lot to explain
Il thought Of all his past kindnesses
to me and, realizing that he was in 4
spot, eagerly took the assignment.
He shouldn't have permitted all OF his
senior officers to 60 on leave at the
same time, and If let him down the
war office would probably break him
for senility.
Il got into more than I bargained
for. The fortress was sniped at morn
ing, noon and night. We slept with
out boots on. One afternoon an in
fantry regiment marched through the
pass on their way into the interior.
They were on a punitive expedition:
bandits had been raiding in the
valleys"
Involuntarily. Christopher closed his
eyes and shuddered. Out of no.
where, hundreds OF tribesmen rose up
| and attacked. The regiment was
practically defenseless, being caught
completely In the open. had to make
a decision. I could save that regiment
II permitted my machine gunners to
leave the fortress and get within closer
range. Their guns only fired about
300 yards. and these natives tanta-
lizing stayed a good 500 yards away.
knew 1t was a trap to get me out.
We'll. thought Of what the colonel
had said. If let those machine gun
ners go into the open and get picked
of by snipers. then the fortress could
be taken without much diff1culty. So
Il stayed inside. The sepoy regi-
ment was wiped out almost to q man.
could see the ofhcers down there
turn white screaming faces up at me
as they died. They were cursing me.
They had 4 right to curse me. But
I had my orders to hold the fortress,
and to use my own judgment.
There was an investigation. Seven
hundred men can't be killed without
making some one responsible. I
couldn't be court martialed. because
had obeyed my orders. We still had
the position. But I could be given
indefinite furlough.' They might Just
as we'll have broken me and thrown me
out of the army The colonel was
sorry for me, and did the best he could
to have that blasted indictment re.
moved from my record, but he couldn't
do anything. Headquarters thought
that had decided wrong, and made
me pay.
mo one likes an ostracized man,
and my wife divorced me as soon as
she decently could. I know now that
she didn't really love me-she couldn't
have. But I still loved her. When
heard that she was killed in an ac-
cident 4 short while after our divorce
everything went to pieces inside me-"
He raised his eyes. Then. I came
to Timora." He stopped. Il haven't
told you everything. but the rest is too
boring"
Denise perceived that he vas re-
AhttoAlt w Soull1luC, dIQ CIldUBcQ
subject. What do you do on the
island?"
Christopher smiled. AT first,
brooded. Then snapped out Of that
and hit upon the brilliant idea Of
writing novels. Other people have
lived apn Islands and written. you know.
and / didn't see any reason why
couldn't. I usually get my little
packets back, though once in a while
something Is accepted. sit in my
den and pound out stories about people
who are wealthy. honored. loyal and
happy" He rose abruptly. Good
night. Dennie"
She reached up with her strong
young arms and would not let him
leave for several precious minutes.
tcopyrisht. 1881
Continued tomorrov.)
Tomorrow: John Pearson's outward
calmness is belied by his words to
Denise. He predicts trouble and his
prophecy is soon fulfilled