The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-07
Rains
Came
Continued from Page 81

der Fdwina to be trussed like
partridge and carried aboard me
plane. He did not know why ne
thought Edwina would choose 10
STAY behind in this pest hole OF
Ranchipur: it was no more tnah
a feeling. a bit Of instinct. since
she had come back from the mis-
sion she seemed little strange
TO him, withdrawn and almost
hostile. Only in that moment
when his hand touched hers as
they stood beside the funeral pyre
had there been a flash Of the old
sympathy and understanding.
So when he spoke to the flier
and told him that he would go
at once to fetch Lady Esketh his
brow was furrowed by a deep
frown. He gave orders that the
man should have something to eat
and drink and then set out for
the hospital
He found her. dressed now in
the blue costume worn by stu
dent nurses. putting in order the
room which she shared with Miss
Hodge and Fern. and the sight
OF her sweeping beneath the crude
cord-laced Indian bed filled him
again with desire to laugh.
Miss Hodge was with her, put
tering about.
Thinking that if he attacked
abruptly he might win his point,
he said. An airplane has been
sent for you. You can go as
soon as you collect whatever you
take with you"
She stood up and leaned the
broom against the wall. Who
sent it," she asked.
The viceroy, l suppose. A per-
son of your Importance can't get
lost so easily"
No, | suppose not. I don't
know whether l want to go"
You're crazy to stay" he re-
peated. You look like the devil
already"
Thanks. I know how l look.
saw my face this morning in the
mirror. Why do you want to be
rid of me -
You make more complications
than you're worth
That's not very clear. What
do you mean him !?
Perhaps other things, too
I'm not bothering him. I've
scarcely seen him. He couldn't
find me very attractive like this"
There are other things, too"
What ,"
The marhanee wants to get rid
of you as soon as possible
Why"
He gave faint grin. She
doesn't like you"
Il know that"
she always knows everything.
She probably even knows why you
want to stay"
Hes got nothing to do with it.
at least not very much"
You know she can order you
to 60"
For a moment she considered
this. Then she said. And if l
refuse she could bundle me off.
She couldn't put me in prison
Il wouldn't be too sure. She's
got absolute power now. She's
been wanting it for years She
hates Europeans especially
European women. She could say
ii was for your own safety. She's
an extraordinary old lady" And
he saw suddenly that he had taken
the wrong tack. Her face had
grown stubborn. almost hard
Il suppose even you think I'm
useless"
No, I think it would be better
if you got back to your old life.
That's where you belong. It's too
late to change now, even if you
wanted to-
If l stay it'll be for reasons
you don't understand
Perhaps"
I They had quite forgotten Miss
Hodge. She stood there. all ears,
fascinated. The poor, pudgy face
was mask of bewilderment.
Cant you put in a word for
me with maharanee ?"
Il might"
Go and see her. When you
come back I'll have reached a
decision. If she won't have me,
III go Then she put her hand
/ on his arm and said, But be
square with me, Tom. l don't
want to go back I'm afraid
to go back. l want to stay here"
He knew what he should have
said-that he knew why it was
| that she wanted to stay. that her
reasons were muddled and senti-
mental, that she was behaving
like a heroine Of cheap novel,
and that he meant to ship her
back at once into the cheap,
bloody life where she belonged,
But ne had, he knew, neither the
heart nor the right to say that
to her, so gently he said. I'll
try. l swear it. But it's against
all common sense"
Thank you" she said, and
kissed him suddenly on the
cheek. Go on now. Do what
you promised
i don't promise anything" said
Ransome. Only remember that
being the widow of the great Lord
Esketh doesn't mean a damned
thlng now, least of all to the old
lady"
ITO Be Continued)