Evening star., 1940-07-25
CHAPTER XII.

but when she saw the purser's door
opening she wished for a frantic
instant that she hadn't waited at
all. Her heart was pounding with
heavy, dull thuds and the palms of
her hands were wet and cold with
nervousness. Her hand shook as
she laid down the paper she had
been holding on her lap. She saw
Algaes back as he stood inside the
Office with one hand on the inside
knob.
That's all right" she heard him
say. II don't want my name to
appear on the passenger list. Beet
root was used on the Georgia list
although they knew my real one.
I'm sure there won't be any trouble
about it."
Every we'll, sir" she heard the
purser reply. 'Ill take care Of it."
Then the door opened again and
Algae came out.
oh he said, Il thought you had
gone"
NO" Phyllis said, II wanted
to see you-about something"
That's fine. Phyllis, but look
like bum and the purser said the
tailor would lend me a suit of
clothes How about waiting til 1
get dolled up and then We'll 60 have
a drink in the bar?"
"All right" said said. She had
! wanted to get everything straight
ened out right away, but his sug-
gestion was almost like a reprieve.
III meet you there in half an
hour"
Algae's suit, a sports type with
belted back and pleated trou-
sers in a robust shade of reddish
brown could have looked better,
having belonged, before it fell into
the tailor's hands, to shorter and
fatter man than Algae. But Phyllis
dress was dream. 1t was a light
tan, summary afternoon frock, fit
ting close around the waist and far
ing out at the skirt The shoulders
were puffed and there were bright
ly Colored plaid cuffs and collar. 1t
made her brown eyes seem twice as
flashing and her thick dark hair
twice as lustrous and soft. For
shoes and stockings she had done
equally we'll. her small feet SEEM
ing to have been made for the toe
less. high-heeled slippers.
The steWardess brought it for
Ada she explained when Algae
! told her how beautiful she looked,
but it was too small in various
places She laughed when Algae
said Meow and then they went
into the bar.
They found a table off to one
side, under windows from which
they could look out across the
water and see the sun disappear
ing in the West. They ordered
drinks and slipped them for long
time in silence. looking around at
the others in the rooom. nodding oc-
caSlonally when they recognized a
fellow survivor from the Georgia.
And then at last Phyllis spoke.
"Algae." she said. do tyou re-
member what you said last night in
the game room?"
Very clearly" Algae replied. Il
told you that l loved you"
"Yes-and I told you a lot of
things that I am efraid I didn't
mean. I guess I'm kind of a snob
Algae. and your talking to me like
that kind Of staggered me. mean
we'll, the way we met and all I Just
thought of you as somebody that
didn't count But YOU do count, AL
gae. II don't know anyone l ad-
mire so much
She had been looking into her
glass as she spoke and now she
lifted it to her lips and slipped the
contents. But they didn't 60 down
easily and she coughed awkwardly.
Algae reached across the table and
laid his hand on hers. Thanks.
Phyllis. for saying that" he said. Il
think l know how you feel. Taking
a job like this is hardly the kind
OF thing a person with any self
respect would do. But when you
came into that Office, L.
you don't have to tell me about
it, Algae," Phyllis interrupted. Il
know you must have been aWfully
hard up for money to do it because
you aren't the type that hires out
for gigolo jobs. You're real and fine
and intelligent - and everything
that's decent and good" She looked
up from the glass and her eyes were
little bit wet. Il know how little
you think of the job, Algae, be-
; cause I overheard you tell the pur-
ser that you weren't using your real
name"
Algae's head snapped up and he
dropped his glass, barely catching
it before it shattered on the table.
Repeats His Love.
Phyllis laughed. "Oh, it's nothing
to get so excited about, Algae. I
don't blame you I wouldn't use my
real name, either, if I were YOU.
And-and I don't care what your
name is if you still mean-what you
said last night
"Oh!" Algae couldn't conceal his
relief. He took sip from his glass
and smiled as he swallowed it. And
not for another moment did he seem
to realize what her last words had
been. Then his smile faded and he
looked at her almost unbelievingly.
Phyllis" he said, resting his ell
bows on the table, II love you, and
I have loved you ever since that
day in Tom Sin the escort bureau
office. I told you the other night
because I was ready to give you
back your money and quit my job
just so you would consider me the
same as any other man. hated hav-
ing the things I said and did when
we were together be just a sham as
far as you were concerned, because
I really meant them. I was taking
= 1-I r