Evening star., 1939-10-15

x
He would be forced to look on at her
happiness with Hans, and that would
be rather bitter pill to swallow.
He made gay, impersonal conversa-
ton all the way over the channel. tor
he knew she was in state ot nervous
tension. She sat beside him tevcrlshly
knott,ng her handkerchief. the spot OF
color in her cheeks too bright.
Hell be terribly changed she
said. 81 know that. I've seen others.
BE prepared for the worst and
maybe you'll have pleasant sur
prise" he said, for he did not believe
all the tales he heard. Men don't be-
come beasts because they incline to
this way of thought. or that. A system
does not change hearts.
Hans was to be handed over to them
on board This had seemed to be the
easiest plan They were all to go back
that afternoon on the same boat.
Sherman had resigned himself to the
prospect OF a lonely voyage in the
smoke room. while Tracy and Hans
paced the upper deck. hand in hand.
She leaned against the rail beside
him as they entered the harbor. Her
hands trembled SO that she could not
manage his field glasses.
Il can't see. You take them and
look. He's tall and very thin and dark"
Sherman swept the waterfront. 1t
wasn't easy to pick anyone out on the
landing stage. and the only tall man
there was in uniform. carrying box.
And he was fair.
They docked At his side Tracy
shivered. clutchlng his arm. Can you
see him?'
Sherman scanned the people troop
ing up the gangway. There was no one
who answered to Hans description,
and again he saw the handsome young
man. PremonitionS of something not
quite right began to creep over him.
He tried to disguise them from Tracy,
and knew he hadn't succeeded. The
next moment someone was calling her
name over the decks.
He breathed sigh of relief If she
was wanted IN the saloon it meant that
Hans was there waiting for her He did
not go with her. He had no wish to see
their meeting and collect another
memory to haunt him.
He remained on deck smoking his
pipe. looking over the quiet country
wrapped i'll its mantle of summer a
white gull hovered against an azure
sky, crying mournfully.
Suddenly Tracy called him: will
you come. Sherman. viii you come"
He noticed, even in that swift
moment. something new in her bear
ing, a dignity. She walked with her
head very high, ahead OF him.
He followed her into the saloon
At the far end knot of people stood
around table A courteous young
blond official was filling in forms and
blottlng them with a flourish. His
short hair stood on end like soft
thick fur Beyond. the tall boy whom
Sherman had noticed on the landing
stage stood rigidly at attention, his
young face grave. his eyes fixed I'M
personally on the distance. like an
automaton that has neither will nor
thought of its own.
Sherman looked round bewildered.
There was nobody else Hasn't he
Gomez" he asked.
"Oh. yes said Tracy very quietly.
He has come - just as they promised
he would"
The courteous young official said
politely, please to sign"
She bent over the table and signed,
her face expressionless, her hand
steady Then she picked up the box
that the tall boy in uniform had
brought on board. With little smile
she handed it to Sherman Vaight
''He has come back" she said
Duly, the words hardly sinking in,
Char,,,,, tII,r, E;tal I,oI To-,