APRIL 6, 1938°

7 — VM SE Se eS Oe

Di

ed. .He stepped through the narrow door beside Hazel’s stall ‘and the oth- ers followed - : .. The dix jerked across the end:of the incline, and slid along with protestiihg breaks to a halt beside the shadowy buik of Pilar’s car Gary got down off the running board and went immediat- ely back to shut the stable doors In the meantime the driver flung open his car door and stepped out, and one look ‘at him was sufficient to assure Bryn |’ that this was, without doubt, Stuart

havy blues and in:dark civiliin clothes a big.blocky ‘figure’ with’ tremenduous- ly wide ‘Shoulders that arrung as he moved -

He was speaking to. Gary. “Mrs. Larned expects me?" os

“Yes, sir.”

“Miss Mayne arrived home again safely?” . Continued from last week borah = It was as busines; “Yes, sir.”

inesslike trans- Bryn stepped in through the narrow

action as this. When I went to the

Orient I headed for India. W. door He was not a yard from Gro-{ “Aren't you going to tell me some-| U°@! + was headed for India: We

Graham at last’ He was out of his|-’ “So that’s final, is it? And I suppose

“you no longer depend’ on her own

“No,” Bryu. said slowly. - "Not any:

longeit id Ma Graham's eyes narrowed: ‘avay?? he enguired.-*“Go on. Try ‘your story out on me. ‘See how far you. géi2* *. Bryn regarded him. » “Very, well,” he said. Thea: “You “eame’ ap here expecting to eventually to marry her. Am'I right?’ , , gece “Apparently you have rend. my Tet ter.” _ "Yes, Well, Deborah won't marry -you. That's final.” . : “Ob,” Graham umirmured scathingly

She’s scared to see me herelf, is’ she?” “It isn’t necessary for you to see her Bryn explained, “Her macriage’ with.

. choices : She can’t murry you. Even ‘in case, like our friend of the jungle, ‘you had changed. your spots. She:can not marry yon because she Is. Already Inarried, To me;*

For half a minute Graham remained Yerfectly motionless, staring . at. him,

7 ihe’ end Of Year 1? nohody spikes

ham thing?” Deborah repeated, knitting her

brows fdintly, © -

Bryn started. “Yes,” he muttered. He swallowed. “Deborah, that is did she I mean, what did Pilar say to you this morning? I mean what she said isn’t important, but I want to know that is, did she try to make you think that "

Deborah wes looking at him with those quiet eyes. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I un- dersand.”

Bryn took deep breath, “You you don’t understand.” he protested. “I'm trying to say that whatever she tuld you was wrong,”

Her glance dropped quickly to her hands, clasped together before her. “It is true,” she said with conviction.

“What is?’ Bryn said in desperation

“What she said. But it doesn’t mat- ter, you know, That is, not tome. I can imagine that you must be troubled when you think about the position you find yuorself:in, but you needn’t be troubled on my account. Really, Bryn If only we if only there were some

way but Grandmother.”

“The position I find myself in?’ he repeated incredulously. “What posi- tien do I find myself in?’

Deborah was silent for a long mo- ment, her eyes still hidden. Then she riised them, and said, “Let’s not dis- cuss it Bryn. It isn’t necessary.”

“Did she suggest,” Bryn demanded tensely, “did she suggest that I was, or ever had been in love with her? I suppose that’s not a. question a man should ask, but I think I’m justified.

‘I'm just beginning to wake up to a nutnber of things. Tell me did

had talked all sorts of nonsense ahout jewels and precious stones and old treaures there, and after I got there I kept my eyes open for that gort of thing and once or twice, in writing home to Pilar, I. told her about one or two things I had seen. So, in one fet- ter I had from her, she enclosed a cheque and. asked me to buy her the most beautiful ruby I could find, I bought the -ruby, and‘ had-it set. for

her in India. That's the ring that she is wearing now," :

Deborah did not speak, ’ Bryn mov- ed a step closer, He put ‘out his hand and touched hers, gently. He took her cold fingers within his own and held them as he spoke. She did not draw wway.

“I have an engagement ring to give,” he told her. “It was my mother’s, It isn’t a ruby, Deborah. It’s a pearl, And the ring itself is mneh too small for Pilar’s nand, I didn’t realize it until lately, but I think I’ve been wait- ing all my life for-a girl who: could Wenr my mother’s ring.” -

' Deborah drew her hand away switt- ly, and put them. both behind ‘her: She stured up at him her-face pale.’ ‘Her ayes’ were very dark, Bryn stood sil- ent, smiling down at her. -

say: Deborah?’

eyes clinging together Bryn took. a step forward, felt the world swinging tround him

A long slow sound floated in through the open windows, It persisted. It eut into his - consciousness, Deborah heard it, too. She caught her breath , » It was Joe’s horn, clear, dewarding,,

she?”

showed me her ring.”

“Her ring?) What ring?”

“The ruby you gave her.”

“Oh, Bryn said after a moment, He turned and waiked away across the reon. ‘He couldn't stand. being there Su cloge to. her ‘without: touching her, and there was still too much between them to think-of. touching her. “Did she suggest it: Was © “an engagement ring, Deborah? ‘Did she dare say it wis?”

“T it wasn’t what she said, I thought that was what she meant But you needy’t explain these things to me, - Bryn. Thera isn't any explanation’ tue me, you know. The explanation, it yeoms to me, is due to Pilar, herself, She She doesn't know exactly why’ you married me, It must puzzle her dreadfully. ‘Tt must: “burt her: Could « yuu not tell her? She is all torn to! pieces with being hort about it. I enn’ see why. she. talks.ag she. does. . I don't’: quite _ it doesn’t, matter,” she said’ “hastily, and then again, “I think you" : ought to, tell her.” .. noe

“MI, haye told her?’ “Bryn; Raid, and!”

came a step “closer, “She knows ex: actly why I. wanted to marry. you, De! horah, Nobody in this, world could aaa [t-any, piginer.",,.. +, Ne 83 val * glad.” ; ; Bryn came back to Stand before: her. “Deborah, Bie explain about that: ring will. you believe , mea? me yl “TE: isn't. necessary ; - For: you to iex plain. It isn’t ‘any ‘of. my, bey Jincas." he “But I ‘want to. explain, Will: 70 . ,Lolleve, me?” 4

rary iia syidiaa

"Ver: eyes” ‘met! hh

Dehorah’s e es darkened. “She en ¥ , over Deborah’s face... She moved onick | ‘Ty. She had heard ‘the: horn tou;: hat. .

now she smiled at him.

'a@-to’ look into her eyes agaln ‘and so

‘eiutse “But” _ bee

f caine again, A wave of color: began to float up

Bryn put his arms out. He put ‘em

rrovud her, lifted her off her feet, held: her closé: against ‘her brenst,: She Imriéil her free against him: He bent and, Pissed: the: tip of her car,

“T love’ you,” ‘he whispered,” then set “her gently on: the floor. and. Went ‘swiftly away lest-he should be tempt-

forget what: must be done ‘nt once for ‘the sake, of her happiness, 7’:

- Bryn dashed madly’ down’ the stairs and out of: the house. - Half way down ‘the ‘path to the little bridge he over. took. Tubby; thrust ‘his* arm throngh ‘the eraok of 'Tubby's “Btbaty: and “diag ‘ged him ‘along, :

~ Bryn fling | open’ the ttle door! nt the buel of ‘the: stable, ond they step ‘ped: ‘inside, “Simon was already. there

lenning: -agninst,Bryn's' car: at-the end; - of ‘the: vow, his cigarette’ glowing™ nicely. |. “Well,” Bryn announced, “here we. ‘

, are, little buttercupe © 8664 “Oh, ” - Simon | 3 maerel .

“How do you do.” Bryn said pleas-| his arms.” “Do you expect‘me to be-

Graham .Whirled- He surveyed Bryn| “I hoped you would.”

steadily with eyes that glinted in the} .“Weil,-I. won't. It’s a damned lie, light “And who are you”. he engnir- She wouldu’t marry you.. I know the ed belligerently Bryn lifted his you. don't Temember me, Graham?” straightened His hanging at his side, clenched “So,"" he said softly, “It’s you?

“TI suppose you did the noble rescuer | fivst place, she loses her property, In act and brought Deborah home again| the second place, the old woman would The poor Little country girl lost in the not hexr_ of it for a moment, property

“something like that,” ryn agreed I'm the only man in the world they'd

‘Then he moved back a step and folded

lieve that?”

fauinily. I know the clreymstances “Sure| they're in. I've had plenty of letters ‘from the grandmother, and” the girl, hand, too. “There isn't a chance in the world itself | that she'd have married you.”

“Why?” . .

“You know dam well why. In the

or no property, She’d starve first,

imnrry. the girl to, and you know - it, Oh, FT get the sitnation. Pm uot en-

“Do you know what I am trying to |.

They stood so; facing each other, ,

Hand Why: Are yeu: sea! He ‘Ine sted” “eurb-Grabam’s piidé in his ow clever.

tHrely damb. I ean see that youre in love with her,and she’s in love with you, but that doesn’t chauge the situa- tion any. She isn’t married to: you, she wonldn’t flo it. She basn’t got the couruge. And she wouldn't take‘a chance of breulcing the old _Wonuan's heart,”

"What proof will you take?" : “Nove,” Grahanv said flatly, “except a statement from Mrs. Larned herselt.” Gary lifted his. head:'*“"They ~ ate nuurvied,” he said to Graham: “It’s the truth. It’s nothing but the truth he's telling ‘you.’

Girahan’s eyes lifted ‘to Gary’s hon-} est old fice. His expression changed slowly. It lowered, ‘darkened. His lower-lip thrust<itself out. :

“Tf they are here,” he began, “there's munething .fishy ‘somewhere, There’s something | after all this talk about nurrying her to me Lo a Graham, Where’s the catch?” He fingered his chin, “I get it,” he said at Inst, sue- cinctly. “1 get it now.”

“Tust exnetly what do you mean?” The fey note in’ Bryn's voice ‘dida’t

ness. “You don't want me to see the old woman,” he Announced. “And,

“And you've bean banging aroun here ever since?” oon

“Hanging ‘around here, ever, since? repented. quletly,, that you know ‘all ahout me, I like to discuss with you your position Unfortunately there’ was no ‘time, after your letter arrived, to get an answer tu: you; ot we might hhaye spared. you. the trouble.of, the.trip” -.- What, do-sou:megn,. spared. me the | tvouble of the strip?! a : Surely - you" unde | auite useless. foliiyou::to : come; ;here, “must. now that-you ‘put: |:

“ani - now, ing un “EP 1 . should Hf Op m te ling you the truth,

ant? thi. it Was

why?) Beeanse it would spoil your game, There's’ some reason. why. ‘it wilt spoil your game’

#L0ok here,” Bryn said ‘coldly, stand

Grahom, and there’s no game sbout 4t, Deborah is married to me We were

there in San Francisco, a8 soon as we could get’ a- Heense. ‘It wag her 2tst birthday, the day she would have mar- ried you, had you been decent. to her,, Why: you come here now I don’t know. By the terms of. the will, its too Inte

‘estute, even if she weren't already mar jtled., to AMG. A Suggest that..you. forget

‘it and: go back” to ‘your ship, Iwill], wat AY on, proofs f of : ‘our. “anarriage H “pos. sibly you ‘are :entitled ‘to that’ mieh ;

"| nothing at all to be. gained: here,: ‘and | that You: imay: us well go." |

Graham Was smiling, an evil kngyr.|

AY | py me, he sald softly. “What ‘do youl .mean yr. , “, “You'se tilled 3 thasbleture 3 preity

well, “But yon ‘khow too" much . about that. estate. and,

cheerfully... “Ft isn’t. late. : Its only

Jike to: go tor a lttle deive with me?” You haven't beet in the car tor tine.”

anurried , three, days. ifter she met ‘you |:

for you ‘to ‘marry: her ‘and collect the]

Pilar,” she said-polttely, “1:f61; wot that

tind.-then : you: must: gee: that there: is _

ing amily: "Nothing tothe: gatiied | tapas

inugt | think Tm a iluinn fool. And af, your plang, you'll xct the mfllon dol- lars thati ught to be mine. And you have the. ‘everlasting guts to tell me to: get out of here in pence and. Jet you ‘get awiy ‘with “it?”

Eryn began to whistle tunelessly he- -tween_his, teeth. 1 : Fibby. "Stepped ‘suddenly ‘through tt open aaa” “Look: bere, “Bryn: he’ said, “what's the use of tryIng te tape

sense to. him?’

“Tubby was ‘followed closely by ai, mon At their sudden appearance Graham moved back a step, stealthily. Something in his puse caught Bryn's eye, anil Without stopping to think he hurled himselé forward on the burly | figure und flung. it . backward, fell heavily. In a second Tubby. und Si- non were into the melee; Bryn sitting on the recumbent man's chest, hand- ed something to Simon, “He had il gun,” he explained

Bryn rose, “Get up,” he said to Grii- A ham “We'll put you in the milk howise ‘ tnd let: you think it over. Maybe you Will. begin to éome to your senses.”

“You can be arrested for this,’ Gra-

ham said, struggling to his feet, . “t don't think go.” Bryn sald mitdty “This is my lawful residence, You came here “uniny ‘ited, flwentened me, tnd drew a’ gun. ~

When dinner was over, eragtunether rose and patted .'Pubby's hand, jfently. “Aq now,” ‘randmother sail Ahajip!" 'y “let’s go out nnd sit on Tbe ver aah, Tt will bea be: tutifal ev ening.”

“Pm atraid it will be chilly, Grand-

mother,” Bryn said quickly “We enn open the drawing Toon witows wide, td sec, the invon from there, enn’t we? “You are mnvk too careful of me, my boy,” Grandmother said with at- fection. “It is not in the least chilly.” The moon had risen already, and liv. a. grent round: ‘silver lantern, on the tops of the Tolling black. hills to the west.

“Let's play “games,” ‘pubby. sid

about “halt.- past . ‘seven, - ‘Something lond and- cheerful. Meo, "It doesn’t seem, ‘Just the might: for loud. cheerful. games,” ‘Grandmother protested. Hts a-dreamy sort cf night my boy. Couldn't. we just’ sit and talk quietly, and igok at the moou1i? . Dehor uh's eyes met -Bryn’s.as. he sat nt. her knee... She’ turned away from him quickly, . ‘conscious of Pilar. watch. . ing | them, being : miserable, unhappy, and lonely, and: beaten. Bryn didn't lore Pilar, Bryn didn’t love Pilar the avords sung in Deborah's heart: so loudly that, she was almost atraid'Pi- § ar wonld hear them, He sald “T love you.” : - There was a “sudden loud noise, to Vehor ah’s ears a nian’s unnistakenble ery. _ Grandmother atarted forward in | her chair.” “Bryn,” she said quickly. “Surely that; ig 2 mon’s yoive?” 2 Bria stood up. “Its steam escaping Grandmother, that's all.” he said ren5- sutingly; and. then, “Lets not stay, oul. here and have it. Worry you: It ‘many g0. on ‘for some’ ‘time, ‘How would: you

are

aclong

*T think I shoud like it very mueh,” she Heplied chesitatingly. “But that’ fl noise, . re you.sure —. *. ,

“Pdsitive, ” Bryn said definitely; Be }

}

Jffered ‘her: ‘his. arm. and ted her down - the steps... soo

_ They were, gue, : pee kt ” " Dehotali,’ ‘after: iu little, vemembered Pilar,nid. -returied to: her, “Tm, Sorry,

you don’t Kuoyy, ‘what this is all about." “AT do: ;know, " Plnt niurmured “Bryn hins told 1 ane the whole ‘stor vs of course"

“] ‘see,”” Debornak ° said. ‘slowly. Tabby. itralh

‘you asia: ihatter, Ny his. concerng aha in-..

to ‘stig. i particular to. Debor. . id coolly. “ :