Evening star., 1941-05-20

them was Sadder than anything he
had seen in London'S bomb-SCarreo
streets. For London was still fight
ing, with the light of hope to keep
the darkness pushed back But in
Lisbon the $4,000 wanted only one
thing-a passage to America. And
he had just discovered how prac-
tically impossible that hope was.
The officials had been very polite
about it, but in his case it would
Just be a matter of waiting. And
he had talked to people who had
been waiting five and six months
If you were a diplomat, military or
government man you had an A
priority and stood a fair chance OF
getting a clipper berth if the mail
wasn't too heavy. A foreign cor
respondent had B rating and that
was pretty good. too. But if you
were any one else. YOU waited.
He pulled up the collar of his
corduroy jacket and turned down
a narrow street along the water
front. 1t was hard to decide just
what to do now. There was really
no use trying to get back to Amer
lea. There was nothing for him TO
go for If he'd cared to, he could
have Cabled his father and been
home inside of a month. 1t would
be easy for his father. From his
big desk he would bark orders.
knowing they would be carried out.
as they always were. And as his
fathers son, Matt would find him
self on the Clipper heading west
with his passport and exit permit
stamped defeat For he would
never 60 back that way. David was
here Somewhere in Europe. He
had almost given up hope of finding
him when he had gone into the
transport office, but now he was
reassured. If he couldn't get out
of Europe then neither could David.
And he knew that his younger
brother had been in Havre a year
ago. That was where the postcard
came from.
An Unhappy Situation.
Matt walked into the sailors part
Of town. He say a rotted wooden
piling at the edge of the water
and sat on it, watching the thin
rain drops silver the black harbor.
A stumpy little man who wore his
clothes badly and smoked a short
cigar walked slowly past. His small
eyes flickered appraisingly over
Matt's bare head sunk in the cordu-
roy collar and the heavy, rough
slacks and gray sweater. Matt
didn't even see him at first. He was
thinking of the last time he'd seen
David. They had both been home
for spring vacation and, as usual
David and his father had quarreled
as they always did. David had
flung into Matt's room, his young
face flushed with anger and blurted
Matt, I can't stand this any
bnger!"
It had always been Matt's Job to
ect as peacemaker between his IA
ther and brother, even though his
fathers unreasonable and high
handed discipline roweled him as
deeply as it did David. He Gained
David down that night at first and
then suddenly the boy had stood up
and said, Matt, I've had enough
and I'm getting out tomorrow"
Matt laughed. Forget it. You've
only got year more of college and
you can take it that long! Don't
start getting childish ideaS!"
Childish" David had shouted.
'Tf you weren't such a clod you'd
feel the same way. If you had any
feelings at all, you couldn't stand an
existence like this where even
your soul Is ruled by your father!"
Matt didn't get angry. David was
raging against everything and he
would be sorry when he Gained
down. you can stand a lot" Matt
answered. IF you have to, couldn't
leave mother here, or you, either
A Tragic Victory.
He had never expected David to
carry through his vague threats,
and even when David had chaI-
lenged him to run away with him,
he hadn't taken 1t seriously. But the
next morning, David was gone.
leaving behind passionate. violent
note and the final blow to his gentle
mother. Tiny and soft-voiced. she
had fought vaiantly to keep her
sons with her, but broke, too. All at
once. she had grown too tired to
withstand any longer the brutal
force of her husband and had quiet
ly died in spite OF his fearful, raging
appeals at her bedside. That was
her first and only victory over him.
And then Matt had been free at
last to face his father and walk out
boldly to find David. The small in
her1tance from his mother belonged
to him and David equally. He had
to find David because in some way
he felt responsible for his going.
What say, mate! You orf one
d them big boats out there?" With
a start Matt turned halfway around
to see the stumpy little Englishman
grinning ingratiatingly and twirI-
ing the cigar in his stubby fingers.
There was nothing about the mans
look that was pleasing to the eve.
but Matt smiled back. 1t was good
to hear English, even this nasal
cockney. AlmosC none of the Por-
tuguese spoke English and few of
the refugees he had met.
mo" he answered. I'm not a
es1or. Though I suppose I look like
ene IN these clothes"
The cockney winked with a Ieer
That made his wrinkled face even
more unpleasant. "Ow, as We say,
mate! There's many a sailor who
amt admittin' it these days."
Matt scowled. Now wait, I said
I'm"
TITS arl the syme to me, mate. arl
the syme." He, scratched match on
his worn shoe and relit his cigar.
"Tho.Npsen's me monicker." he VOL
unteered. And. b1imey. but it's
a treat to meet up with a white man
among all these bloody foreigners"
Matt ReleAs.
Matt was beginning to wish the
man would leave He resented his