Evening star., 1938-05-08

- RANDs car took the rough jungle track
II from the coast port of Sarang -dhin to
Soil in the fever-foul, mosquito and
- snake-infested interior, eating up mile
upon mile through the night. He was in two
minds as to the purpose and result of the mis-
sion which had rushed him here from the
paiety and luxury of the Club at Sarang -dhin
a few hours since.
Even when presently he glimpsed the dis
tant liphts which told him that Warren's rail-
construction camp lay close ahead, he was
uncertain after all. what line to take. He
slackened speed while thinking it out.
All over a letter, one of few words indeed.
but with too much of meaning behind them
for him to have written to Warren's wife in
that folly of infatuation which she had aroused
in him. She had to be blamed little, and 50
too had Warren for bringing her to forsaken
SPOT like Sarang- -dhin. and then forgetting
about her for long stretches while away. build
ing his bridges in the interior.
The Chinese amak had brought the letter
to her, together with one just arrived from
her husband. saying he was returning. Ac-
tually. as she was reading the two. Warren
was with her. Quickly, for fear lest he should
see it, she had slipped Brands indiscreet
epistle into the leather case containing neck
let of pearls, lying on her dressing table at the
moment Slipped it under the blue velvet bed
on which the pearls lay, the bed of the case
happening to be loose.
And what should Warren do, thinking al
ways with that practical mind of his, but say
the pearls were too precious to risk being
snatched by daooits through lying around as
they were. He had pocketed them to be de-
posted at the bank Hot on this, little more
than an hour later, he had been called back
urgently to Soil, because of trouble there.
Pearls still in pocket, he was gone like the
wind, with Eve only gradually realizing
afterwards what had happened. to say moth
ing of its possibilities. In frenzy of fear.
she had come to Brand.
''You must 60 after him. Make any excuse
you like but be with him till you can get at
that case Once he sees that letter and reads
it, I'm lost. That mustn't happen. 1t mustn't
- you see? love him
And here, in the dank swampishness OF
Soil, as Brand braked his car alongside the
construction camp huts, came Warren -
all grimed and sweated - wondering why he
had turned up?
Brand pulled himself together, family re-
lieved So far, it was clear, Warren had moth
ing against him. for he was smiling and pally
And that he could scarcely have been had he
found the letter. 1t was easy for Brand, who
was on government survey work, to frame
excuse for his arrival, with the request that
he might stay the night.
Warren was dining - in the rough, it was
true - and that suited Brand, who was hum
gry Yet, as they talked. he had little appetite
to eat. Why he wondered - must Warren
talk 50 oonfdingly about Eve, his feeling
that she ought not to be at Sarang- -dhin. his
fears that their separation for such long
periods was not good for their married hap
piness? Was he acting part? Had he found
and read that letter. and now was playing the
cat-and-mo game?
You're luckier than am, Brand. You see
a great deal of her. know" he observed in
the end, and Brand guessed - half hoped -
that he was pointing the shaft he had pre-
pared. Then, however, he said something
which completely turned the tables:
I'm glad of that, anyhow. You're man
after nv own heart. Brand. While Ewes with