Show f r J J Js l iOne A ne oft s Is t tI ti tr I I It i i r 9 fe 1 I DJ S bore I v r rf J WN VICE U V dl t 1 f iv 1111 r 6 t 1 CHAPTER VIII-Continued VIII VIII Continued 13 13 Hullo Hirsch Thought 1 I d find you here I se e come corne to tell you ou that Its It's no good your four hanging about here any longer R ewe e e got gottlic the things you re after See The sooner you pu push h oft the better Good h b bv at nt Scie fell rell Mew few sat satIn satIn at atin In hIs Ills room telling teng himself that he ought to be out looking for new Jod lodgings for nc nest t t ee week but curl of exertion c because of the lie medley of thoughts shish cluttered his brain Somehow deep down In his heart henrt had there was wis n a vague ague regret lie He n a whole week cek of excitement and he seemed to time hale acquired the tn taste te for e excitement Some Some- Som Somehow Somehow how v the pro prospect of i 1 lifetime dl di divided vided het between the bink banic the board boardIng boardIng lag Ing hou house e and ind the tennis club seemed to be a little wanting In some respects The weeks week's nd adsen en tares ture had cost cast him i t black eye and anda anda a burned chest a n suit and a n pair of shoes sho's and a pair of suspenders loss 0 5 of 0 his peace of mind and dis ml from his board boardIng boardIng lag Ing hou house e Was as there to be no compensation at nil alP ally The week had cost him more th in n tint that Had he not spent ill all that money when he went ent out great with greit ScottI Scott Marjorie lie He had forgotten all about I Here Herens was sas a confidante awaiting him some one who would listen wide e eed ei cd ed and amazed but sincere sincere- sincerely sincerely ly y believing to Harolds s marselous man elous tale hIe of high finance and royal rovil ro 11 pee pec c 11 ith ilk his held head on Mar MarJorie Jorie jone s breast breist and her arms round him In Indignant friendship lie he could tell her ill about the un Haw lIa kins and about that nl nightmare tomcat climb over osier the roofs roof It would be bo fine to tell Mar Marjorie Marjoric jorie about thing Perhaps It t was wis 15 telepathy or perhaps it wis coincidence nut But just as aol Harold was sal wondering whether hether or not It was as too late to walk altO across S the Ashford road to see ee Marjorie l some one came scurrying r ing up the stairs and und knocked lt it Harold s bedroom door It was Theres There's i a lady to see ee you sir said It was Marjorie l Of course It was l She was standing where here hid had left her on the thedoor door doorstep tep outside the open door her lIer eyes eye were ere wide Ide and troubled and it looked as ns If It her lips would tremble It if she allowed ed them to I Hullo said Hullo said 11 1 Marjore l I I w n a as just coming round to you sold Harold and Marjorie nearly believed belle him I ets et's go out he said and reached for or his hit hat They walled walked out together Into the darl dart ening street and ind with mu tuil consent ind with Ith no word ord spoken they turned turnell to their rIght and wall cd ed toward the common knew tint in those streets where here the dIn daylight light he could not say to Mar jor Ie all he wanted anted to say sav l lIe knew that words of tint that sort would call for actions to support them them lie He clutched at the first subject of com conservation he could think of How lIos Is Mr Ir Clarence he asked lie He s much better replied Mar JOlle with Ith a trace of formality hes hes he's left the hospital already and heR hes gone rone luto n a nursing home I in glad to heir hear h lies lie s better said Harold cautiously he did not know v what hat lay liy behind the other piece of Marjorie bad offered Enlightenment cameBy came cime Bv By v silent mutual consent they sat on the same ame sent seat as they hall had shared on the fateful c evening when hen they had arranged to go Into the y together I I was so whispered Mar orle but with formality even en clinging to her whisper per not to see seo you yon when hen vou ou came on Sunday I Iwas aas as quite well sell ell of ot course I ns but that old cat wanted a n chance to be beastly I nearly ran down m alien hen I heard you downstairs And Am then when hen she slie came back bick from church In the evening and told rae me about about-about about you I felt like cr IQ But nut I wa wasu u t going to cry just to plea please e her I said I knew new the girl quite well and that she was oily jolly I nIce I I I-I I I didn't know now the girl Bald Harold I I didn t want rant ant to know her but I but but I had to go o out Ith Owen You see see-It see It was as liko this this- tills Harold foun found himself obliged to toI i I I stop to collect his hib thoughts ready to begin at the beginning and tell Marjorie all about the amazing week but while he was doing so he I caught l s ae e e In It there was as i a a twinkle twinkle a positive e t twinkle tInkle Inkle ot of of amused unbelief Of Of course said Marjorie and I there was wac good fellowship in her tone I can guess how It was wt Wien en you made the appointment for Sunday iou Sou ou didn t know what was as going to happen the day be before forc with fore with us AnI And y vou ou hid had to keep leep It But Dut and theren there n was n a hint of asperity In her tone I I do thInk you vou ou might hive base e written ur or come round on Monday I waited for you all the e evening and I couldn't bear it any longer an and I sneaked out and ring rang up Fell View on the telephone and that old cat cat- cat Mr Mn In Pound Isn t said it-said It you ou cnn t In and she didn t know when you would be bo In or anything I At somewhere some about time the same time as ns Mai It jorie had Ind telephoned had hod been stretched hand handcuffed I cuffed and unconscious on a prison bed at nt the of Herr Bauers auer s department so 1 0 o said Untold 11 1 old I I couldn t oh I-I-oh I oh do listen a minute Mar l Marjoria Marjoric joria I 1 I was was I sas- sas was Kept late Idle In n time the lie city sold Slid lar Jane and she slie actually smiled Oh Oh my dear my dea dear r I l I did s ant you so Tho Those e were sere their last Intelligible words for a n long long time At last Marjorie found herself wm tom against s shoulder and her t two 0 hands bands cla clasping one ona of his Dear said Marjorie 1 I 1 want to ask you vou ou something hat is lS It said suld Harold There was nothing could ask ach which he ho would could mind answering answering- Harold Indeed a fortunate er loser lo I I wanted canted onte to know said Mar Marjorie MarJoric jorie sh I you If-If-you If if you re making lovo or If you want cant to get et married Goodness I l l said Harold lie had hardly visualized the two as possibly distinct I I only want cant ant to know went on Marjorie 1 Oh I I I Oh mv my dear and once more cons com conversation became r f IS e et t t tr 1 r t J I t s tio J I I II I Wanted to Know Said Mar MarJone MarJorie Marjone Youre You're If If Youre You're Jorie Jone Shyly MarI I Making Love or If You Want to Get Married submerged for n a spice hen lien It ItI came to the surface again Marjorie said sad I 1 lou ou see Its It's about the house dear Because fathers to be assay ay Auntie w iv rots nits me to sell It It s my house you see It rime cime to me from mother Oh I 1 said Harold Ills His brain be bejan began beran jan gan to think furiously fm in spite te of himself I c I 1 se e got tn twenty enty pounds pound a year of my 0 au own n too said ald Marjorie and added fuel to the I I don t t want wint to sell the house sent nt on Marjorie l If-If If if If 0 were sere re go goIng goIng goIng Ing to get roam mal It Its s i a dear little house ind its it's just right for for- for for i 1 newly nealy ne Iy married couple hen hon when hen would could we se be married If you wint sint to hen would you like dear said Harold with Hh a 1 last I I I I I shred of caution and fear of re- re responsibility re I I don t mind sal said Marjorie Marjorie- neither neither would she he put Into words nords the thol thoughts tint were ere In both hoth their minds They both looked at each other Of Of course I coul could let the house furnished begin began Marjorie but but- but but I but I dont don t cant to o li us o with Ith Auntie Mabel By y George said Isaid I 1 said Harold Mrs Mrs Irs Pound gave gale ga e me notice this mornIn morn In lag Ing So you ve e got to find somewhere else to use Yes A fresh silence fell upon them But Marjorie es e e had full grasp of the situation noI now no I I want to be inquisitive e she sold May May lay I I low How much mone money ha e rase you got lye Ive I e got ot tw t two o 0 tw t tent ent enty five fi i a year from the hank said Harold But But have you got an anything nos no noOh s Oh yes I e got about fifteen pounds In my current but account account butI AndI I want to buy a new suit And 1 Ise e got a nominal ninety pounds pound In war savings casings a Ings Worth about a hundred fifteen now by hy that's simply wonderful said Marjorie Marjoriee e e can get et mar marI hied I led when hen we like Tomorrow Dear do lets let's It would be fun But But-but- But but slid said Harold I Idon Idon don t think we could get married If se e wanted to tomorrow Area t there banns and things s It tales til es three weeks doesn't It Oil Oh Oh ye yes sold and and the disappointment In her voice rolce tied up Harold s vitals In a hard not knot Of Of course I hid had for forgotten that But Harold was wis now as eler ei cr to erase crase that thit disappointment as ns he- he before fore lie he Ind been to find reasons for delay But Rut there are arc licenses or something area arcu t there he said I don t know whether they'd bh Ise e u us one but but- but You Too ml might ht try said Mid Marjorie Tomorrow And Harold found to his mild surprise that he was nas as engaged to be marrIed at nt the thc earliest t possible moment But curiously he did not object It was seas sery i cry ery late Inte Indeed by the time he lie kl kissed sed Marjorie bood nod nl night ht fur for the last time at nt her gate It was sills I liter Iller ater still b the time he was as home and In bed But lint It Isas as not much later than that by bythe bythe the time he was as asleep It took by this thle time more than a little thing like nn an approaching to disturb Darold Harolds s sleep lIe Ho was wasn wasa wasa n a veteran by now CHAPTER IX After Wednesday HAl I way say ay through time the neat ne t morning the branch brunch manager er called Harold Into his little and said hat on earth have ha I you been up to youn young man Harold reeled i a little ss here he I stood tood pith Ith the tho hot liot blood flooding his hie neck and ind forehead lIe He hid Instant visions of casual wards lIe felt he had lo lost t Ive Ise I e Just been talking Hiking on the phone said the man I er is with Ith- Ith hm with lim with head heal odice a sery cr ha person at tit he id office lie fIe sn s you ou re to be from salary scale lour I our to salary scale I ice Ivo at the standard figure ure for your yur tI age e and dated back to lane nry my That puts you up to three t ent with about fifty pounds back pay and another weeks leeks leavea leave leare a ear cir and so on hat have havo you ou been doing I don t know no said aId Harold loo ou re a n lucky luchy young de devil desil II any sea a said the manager When I Iwas as aas your age age- age e- e eI 1 body knows s nobody knows nt at atall I all cn save case e perhaps the chairman of the National County bank e shy hy was sins as asen g en en that raise And It also m might ht be held indis erect to Inquire into limbo the origin of the Anglo A Oil company which came Into being a n few seeks later Inter backed by the British gov government ov a and 1111 with i 1 very sery cry favorable concession from Raphael king of lesser i esser arll A But hut It would could be iri In no way wiy In IndIscreet Indiscreet Indiscreet dIscreet to us ask how Harold spent his lunch hour It wis sus consumed In a dash to Morley Park In i a to th the local registrars office Has Hn Hasing Having ing wandered pandered miserably ml Into and Ing has hn In lag been turned turnell out with Ig Ignominy from the room where here a am am m e w wis as In pro progress ress he at last found the right little ticket to tip tap nt at and i a cler clerk be behind behind behind hind It to answer er questions Please e I sent wint to get married sold Harold sow Isow that he h hd d progressed so fir lie he felt exactly th the wane sime night nightmare mare helplessness which he hold had encountered so man mini time before Yet the clerk cleric did not seem to think Ills his remark so extraordinary lIe did not grin gran he lie did not glow In indecently Indecently decently jocular His polite gras grasity Ity Indeed Inde only accentuated the inevitableness Ine of the si whole hole bust busl bustness ness Harold learned to Ills hIs sur surprise surprise prise that licenses were ere oy or anyone one 0 over oser er t twenty enty one who hid had i t pound or t two 0 to lie he lie ind Marjorie could be married on the morrow If they canted to sought In hIs mind to find whether hether he lie thought It possible to hn have hale e Saturday morning off he had Ind tint that much clear clem sl decided tint that he lie could and promptly ly paid for a license anti anel made an appointment for to- to to morres morre morres s lunchtime rt Friday bo So o it w II is nil Ine and It all soil orl ed hl hi e c clod work nark or Isar old olds s Intel lew with sith Mr lr ind Mrs after dinner after dinner he had told Marjorie was ns only queer l Ir Mrs Tilling wis l scandal zed at the thought of go goIng going going Ing back to the lie bank bink to do an nn aft afternoon afternoons s work or after h In ising In been married and of Iris ln ing ing to wait for ham liim she slie wis nas 10 also ilso scan although of course In this case she did dill not announce her it the thou thought ht of and Marjorie spending th their lr first nl night ht to together ether alone In i 1 suburban house of In time the decent for formality mality of hotel or boarding house Tint That brings s Harold s history to But the n future seems m Ious nb bIo Harold na l will l live lI on with Ith Marjorie In the little house in crescent lIe rise by b slow sloe degrees deg through the grades rades of oC the hank sen en ice until it last host he will re leh the hel heights ht of His Ills will expand c and he lie wll wil grow grov thel r corpulent and c d peptic And Marjorie will III change Ith h him m and the soft lines of her face will vanish to be replaced by dell deli alto forI for I will III turn shrewish Ish with the passage e of the year icaro and amid the al of children dren I or they will have children ren of course from whit shit I Ii h ln e use I heard i e belle bellee e that it will not riot he long he fore the arrival 01 of the firO first anti they the will grow v up just Jus like Ills His Is u t type tipe pe that persists persist The memory of that s eel of cek of the I week eele when hen he contended Ith Bauer and with and with ith Raphael Raphiel l ling ing of the will Huns fade with Ith startling That Th week seek was too unlike nn thing eJ else e too grote grotesque que und and too ulous and too ton horrible to be really possible In course coure of ot time Harold sill en e hind find himself as 11 asto nto to whether hether It really happened or not All tint that will sill III remain to him will willbe willbo III be an automatic pistol which he will III keep In case of burglars and anda anda a little white scar upon his Ills bre list IsI the lust last trace of the of lIan Ins kins the Horrible And In course of time en e that lint will fade de TUB Tim L D |