The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-09-21
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sat with his head bowed in his
hands.
ct am so glad" she said at last.
"Glad?" Monsieur lifted his
head. Was it the same man? Won
dered Meta vaguely. His back
had Strengthened, his eyes no
longer contained the tragedy of
the whole world.
'It is you who have done it for
me-" said Monsieur quietly. ''It is
from your hands that I accept
this inestimable gift. In return,
take my heart, Mademoiselle, if
it contains any value to you. It
holds my love, my esteem, my
gratitude"
The next morning Pole Star
House buzzed with the news.
Breakfast was a very cheerful
meal. Monsieur Victor, beaming
received Johns congratulations
with vivacity that amazed the
latter.
After breakfast John set off to
find the boy Cummins without
going to the Point Hotel. He knew
a little cove where, without be-
ing seen, he could watch from
distance with a spyglass. With
the sunshine warm on his face he
sat dreaming, until at last he
jerked himself upright. Alfred
Cummins, emerging from the
back door of the hotel; Taking the
cliff path, thank the Lord! He
could intercept him as he passed
above him. He waited and then
whistled with a peculiar insistent
whistle. Alfred Cummins stop
ped dead. Then, with a little ex-
cited jerk of his head, he follow
ed the cliff path as it turned sharp
ly to the left and rescended to the
beach.
Il want you, sir" Those were
Alfred Cummin's first words as
he stood there, a little breathless,
touching his cap.
"Well?"
81 was coming to see you, sir"
II was coming down the hill from
Battle Point last night when I met
a young gentleman coming up. He
said: Like to earn a half a crown
my MANI" and said, eyes, sir"
GO on"
"And then he said: It's this. I
promised my sister I'd bring her
some silk stockings from Miss
Humans shop, and though I've
been there today I clean forgot
about them. Here's a note to ask
her to send them on, because if
I wait till I get back to Dorset I
shall be to late to catch the post"
"Yes?"
$50 I took the letter, sir, and
put it in Miss Humans letter
box"
"Why did you think you ought
to tell me all this" asked John.
Alfred clenched his hands. cts
what I get" he said, cts what I
get and what l can't explain, ever
since was kid. It gives me the
feeling that I want to do some
thing. And I know I never shall.
Because there isn't anything for
the likes of me that it's and use
for. It's no use when you're
washing plates to know you're
going to break the next but two
unless you hold it ever so careful
and then sometimes even that's
no good"
"But tell me how it affected you
last night?" said John gently.
"Just the same" said Alfred
recovering himself. "That gentle
man, there was something dirty
in the air. Though he was a gen
tleman that half-crown of his
seemed to burn me palm. The
letter
81 see," John spoke deliberate
ly. "Look here, want to talk to
you, Alfred. I want to say some
thing very important to you. You
can help me with this queer feel
ing of yours. I don't laugh at 1t
because have it, too, and l have
learned to use it as I wish. For
instance, I should know at once
if you were not telling me the
truth. There are things going on
in this village that I want to know
about" said John, slowly. Things
that concern the war. I can find
some of them out for myself, but
not all. And those that cannot
find out for myself, you can tell
me-"
"But :" Alfred was splutter-
ing. 81 might play you false" he
cried. 81 wouldn't, but how do
you know that I wouldn't? I
wouldn't; help me God, I would
MT. I'll swear, on my oath I'll
swear. Will that do, sir?"