The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-06

Continued from Page ~
der Fdwina 70 be trussed Ike
partridge and carried aboard me
nlane He did not know why me-
thought Edwina would choose 20
CIV behind in this pest hole OF
Panehipur. IL was no more thaa
q feeling. a bit Of instinct. Since
she had come back from the mis-
SION she seemed a little strange
to him. withdrawn and almost
hostile. Only in that momehs
when his hand touched hers as
thew stood beside the funeral pyre
had there been a flash Of the OLD
sympathy and understanding.
So wien he spoke To the fller
and told him that he would 90
a. once TO fetch Lady Esketh ms
brow was furrowed by a deep
frown. He gave orders that the
man should have something TO ear
and drink and then set out for
the hospital -
He found her, dressed now ~
the blue costume worn by stn>
dent nurses. putting in order the
room which she shared with Miss
Hodge and Fern. and the signl
Of her sweeping beneath the crude
cord-laced Indian bed fllled nina
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 yop
take with you -.
She stood up and leaned tne
broom against the wall. VINO
sent it," she asked.
The viceroy, suppose. A per-
son of your Importance can't gel
lost so easily"
No, I suppose not. l donk
know whether I want to go.
You're crazy to stay, he re-
peated. you look like the dew
already"
Thanks. I know how look. I
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 a faint grin. She
doesn't like you"
II know that"
"She always knows everything. I
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 /
refuse she could bundle me off.
She couldn't put me in prison
II 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
it was for your own safety. She's
an extraordinary old lady" And
he saw suddenly that he had taken
the wrong tack. Her face mad
grown stubborn, almost hard.
Il suppose even you think I'm
useless"
No, l 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"
They had quite forgotten Miss
Hodge. She stood there, all ears,
fascinated. The poor, pudgy face
was a mask of bewilderment.
Cant you put in a word for,
me with maharanee ?"
Il might
Go and see her. When you
come back III 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 E. I'm afraid
to go back. ! 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 a 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, III.
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"
Il don't promise anything" said
Ransome. only remember that,
being the widow of the great Lord
Esketh doesn't mean a damned,
thing now, least of all to the olds
lady" =
ITO Re COntinued) -