1938-03-11 — Page 13

EON Berg sneezed.

CHINA MAIL

FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT MARCH 11, 1938

sat, with

head bent back, quivering eye- lids, gaping mouth.

One moment he had been loung- ing carelessly, watching Nina with a studied expression that should have conveyed grief and resignation overlaid with a cer tain humorous charm.

And the next, this sneeze had caught him, convulsed him into the red-faced figure of fun that plays chief part in the annual comedy of the Spring cold.

Through transparency of tears, he saw again Nina's white, apprehensive face.

Leon Berg wiped his eyes and returned to the tactful handling of a delicate situation.

He had been living with Nina Willstone for nearly eight

Short Story

months, ever since Nina had look- ed upon Donald's brooding, dis- tasteful face, and had filed along the road of escape which Leon bad so persistently indicated.

They had hurried together from the North and plunged into London's teeming anonymity. One felt safe in London. “One felt even safer in a fifth-floor flat in St. John's Wood, with furniture on the hire-purchase plan, and the door barred to exclude all but the memory of a cheated husband. Nina, in the rapture of a first indiscretion, had given herself prodigally to Leon Berg. When he recoiled, satiated, she found she could not hold him, having nothing more to give. And Leon had discovered once again that the more his women changed, the more they were the same.

•

That was why three days be- fore he had gone after the job in Malaya. Leon was not the type to build Empires. The far-flung posts might be flung farther for all he cared. But Malaya seem- ed remote enough from Nina and her troubles.

"Darling," he said, just before be sneezed, "I do hope we're not going to be silly about things

99

"Things?" she repeated, when he had finished sneezing.

"Yes." I'm leaving England soon. I'm afraid-for

a a few years."

“And you're going alone?" She seemed surprisingly calm

"Sorry, I must. The job needs a single man. Lonely planter and all that sort of thing. Can you imagine me planting tea or coffee: or rubber or whatever it is they plant in Malaya?"

He laughed, watchfully.

“Of course, Nina, it's been grand here, but it couldn't go on indefinitely. Now could it? And I need this job, financially, physi- cally, morally, if you like^.

Wild Morals!"

to

Now it's not like you, Nina,

At last she turned her gaze directly on him

"Leon, you can't go.*

make

"Now. darling try to things as easy as possible for me. I've accepted the job, it's true.

But

"A SNEEZE IN SEASON”

t later on, there may be planty

*You can't go.”

"I saw my husband to-day.” **Donald? That's impossible. It isn't likely out of all London

"I saw him. He had found us." "Where was he? Did you speak to him?"

“No. It was this morning. I was: looking out of the window and 1 saw him across the road. I drew back, so I don't think he saw me. But he was watching the house. Then he went away. What does he want? What is he going to do?**

"Steady on. You've got the jitters. It was probably someone

By Cyril

James

who looked like him. Here, I'll mix you 2 drink”

He handed her the drink and looked with cold fury upon her bowed head as she sipped it. He had to get away quickly now. The thought of Donald Willstone, powerful, threatening, dangerous beat in his mind until he felt the first tremour of panic..

"Everything's going right, you see.

"But you wouldn't leave me?? *Leave you?he placed an arm around her shoulders "d'you think I'd run out on you now? Malaya's off. We'll stick to- gether. Just in case there is trouble, though I still think you're mistaken about that chap

"Oh, darling":

Suddenly she was in his arms, sobbing hysterically, clawing the suit he had bought expressly for the interview with the Malayan people.

"I knew I could trust you, Leon. knew it I knew it." "Take it easy. I throw in my hand this afternoon "

"Thank God. Why, if he caught me here alone, he'd

"That's enough about him. If the husband wants trouble, he'll find plenty.”

It all worked out smoothly. "Come back soon, she called after him as he walked down the stairs.

"Of course, darling."

Of course, darling, of course. Well, the first thing was to 'phone the doctor and get that medical test over right away, instead of waiting for the next day. Once he had that medical certificate, the contract

automatically confirmed.

The start of the Obstacle Race at the Peak School Sports

was as Leon Berg neared the doctor's surgery that sneezing again.

With the first sneeze, can

the realisation that the Spring had brought him the year's most ill- timed cold.

With the second, flashes danced before his eyes, houses, streets and sky with sud- den high-lights.

And with the last he felt some- thing breaking inside his nose, something which released warm, pulsing flood of blood. He stood there stupidly, no longer sneezing, but trying to staunch, the blood with an ineffective handkerchief.

Of course, it would happen just then

He wondered what the doctor would say. It was natural enough. Everyone's nose bled sometimes. But would the man imagine there was something wrong? One Ettle doubt might send him back to Nina, back to

He was in a cloakroom, swilling his face, soaking a towel in cold water, pressing it to the nape of his neck. Slowly, the bleeding stopped....

He blinked into a mirror, frowning as he saw his stained tie and ruined shirt. Still, he had (Continued on Page 7)

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