The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-08-17

room by a lovely fire-thlS also
an unexpected pleasure. There
fore, when Joan, looking up into
Mrs. Manvers-Pollock's hard, long
face and wondering how on earth
she would be able to bear her,
almost abjectly apologized. Mrs.
Manvers-Pollock said unexpected
lily, ooh, we'll, let's forget it." I'm
expected, because Mrs. Manvers-
Pollock generally drove home any
advantage she might happen to
have. But as a matter of face she
was agreeably surprised with Pole
Star House. "Have you any other
visitors? Do sit down, won't you?"
said Mrs. Manvers<Pollock graci-
ously.
mo, thanks very much. I should
sit down if I wanted to" said Joan
simply. eyes, we have one other
visitor and are expecting Sec
ond. A Frenchman "a Monsieur
Victor"
"Free?"
ooh, no, he pays" explained
Joan hastily.
81 mean Free French"
ooh, I see," Joan chuckled.
''How funny! I thought did you
mean did I take him for nothing?
Yes. expect he's a Free French
man; I never thought of asking
him. Would he be loose like this
if he wasn't?"
"He might be. He might be a
spy"
"a spy! Oh, no! Not Monsieur"
chuckled Joan. "Wait until you
see him; you'll know in minute
that he isn't one"
"HoW?"
"Well, I don't know exactly
how" said Joan awkwardly. "Oh,
dear, I must go and take off my
hat; we've been out to tea, Mon
sieur and I have. Such fun; we
loved it. Something quite new for
him to scramble up hill to a
tiny cottage and have tea with a
novelist"
"What novelist?" inquired Mrs.
Manvers Pollock, declining that
for a woman who ran a hotel Mrs.
Maturin was too much at her
ease.
Meta Jackson. She wrote "A
Knight in Mufti'."
"a dreadful book!' exclaimed
Mrs. Manvers Pollock. "Dirt. l
never read dirt on principle"
"I see." And then with a pleas
ant word or two Joan excused
herself. This hard-faced woman
had hunted for all the improper
bits and missed the lovely ones!
Later in the evening with Mrs.
Manvers Pollock settled at her
Patience cards and Monsieur in
the lounge reading France Libre"
she asked DR.. Warner what he
thought of Monsieur.
81 should say that he has gone
through a good deal. If he wishes
to tell us he will. Don't probe"
mo, no, of course I shan't. But
it's all too easy,' Joan commented.
Things will go wrong when the
new man comes. I feel they will" y
ooh, let's forget about the pay
ing guests" said DR.. Warner light
| ly.
"Will they spoil things?" asked
Joan.
Spoil what?" Suddenly feeling
reckless, DR.. Warner held out his
arms. Don't make it difficult for
me, darling,'' he Said. "You know
exactly how I feel. Try to be
content with that for the moment
anyhow"
ooh, I am, I am" With a rush
Joan was in his arms.
John Wynter arrived at Staple
ford, twenty miles due west Of
Battle Point, at about half past
three in the afternoon, and steer
ed his car into the adge of little
narrow lane. It was well conceal
ed because it was one of the ap-
proaches to the huge military air
drome that had recently been
built among the grose and health
err. A wonderful airdrome, cam
ouflaged almost to the point of
magic. Crushing out his cigarette
he slipped his his hand under the
cushion of the seat and pulled out
a blueprint. Yes, he could get in
away to the left; he had his pass
and that would admit him with
out any difficulty. Pushing the
blueprint into an inner pocket, he
pulled out the ignition key and
got out of the car. 1t only took
minute or two to lock and dis
conect it and then, pulling his
hat little lower over his eyes
he started to walk up the hill. The
lane got narrower and narrower