The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-09-07
CHAPTER VII


out to see who it was. You see, I
have to open my own front door,
so I think twice before I come
down the stairs" Odette's heart
sang. A heavenly evening ahead
of her. And there had been moth
ing to dread in the letter at all.
Fergus was satisfied; her last bit
of information about the air
drome had been valuable, and she
had been good girl to get it off
by the evening post, and the code
had been changed so she would
not be hearing from him for a
day or two. Alan was well, and
was soon going to be appointed to
a position of authority in Oflag
81.
well, where shall we go?"
John reached across and unlatch-
ed the door. He did not intend to
give that curious little group too
good a look at him. Fraser had
put him wish about the gossip in
Battle Point that morning. Odette
was suspect, Enthusiastically so. Her
correspondence was all being
opened, but so far without sue
cess. Her principal correspondent,
one Fergus Letter, was also sus-
pect, but it was frightfully diff
cult to find out anything definite
about him. He was a keen Home
Guardsman, his parents Cloth
dead) were British, he had been
educated at Heidelberg, but so
had a great many other English
men, and his occupation before
the war had been that of brok-
er. He had a small private in
come of his own on which he was,
presumably, living as business
on the Stock Exchange was prac-
tically at a standstill. He was
man in the early forties.
$50 that's that" In the gloomy
little sitting room behind the cob
bler's shop, John sat back in his
chair and watched the tall thin
man with the damaged foot re-
place the little black exercise book
under the hearthrug.
eyes, it doesn't take us much
further, does it, sir?"
mo, not at the moment. Oh,
yes, of course, thought I'd for
gotten something. Signaling? Is
there any going on here? I
thought I saw something the 9TH
er night down on the beach be-
low our house"
signaling, sir?" A slow smile
dawned on Fraser's cadaverous
face. That young devils at it
again! I've warned him twice.
Not tonight, not tonight, not
tonight" Was that it,"
"Yes."
That's young Alfred Cummins,
from the Point Hotel. He signals
his young lady, housemaid up at
one of the houses on the cliff
Il see." Something within
John gave great shout of Joy.
So, it had not been she! "But
there has been signaling here?"
He spoke again.
Undoubtedly there has been,
sir. But where from? That's the
point"
'WelP-John got up out of
his chair-'I'm here to find out
what's wrong, although it may
take me some time. And if it
seems to you that I'm going a
strange way about it, keep your
mouth shut, and if you hear any
gossip try to silence it by leading
them in the wrong direction. And
you've got it clear? E. 4, I. Y"
Yes, sir. And I'll let you out
OF the side door. It's gone one
now and it's early closing"
Thanks" And then John had
gone home again. And as he lean
ed forward to let in the clutch he
remembered the joy with which
he had almost run down the steep
hill. Back to an excellent lunch.
John Wynter smiled as he and
Odette steered round the corner
mo the golden shafts of the set
ting sun.
Where shall we go? Some
where where we can get a meal
of some kind. Do you know any
where?"
There's a very nice hotel at a
place called Beaufort. I once din
ed there and it was very good"
with whom?"
Suppose say that it was a
man with whom I am in love-"
Il shall say that I don't believe
you"
1T seems to me that you're
frightfully inquisitive," she said. |
81 know I am. But can't help
that. Come on, now, get it over.
Don't let's spoil nice evening by
your being obstinate"