THE OAKVILLE-TRAFALGAR JOURNAL BY Back To Port ETHEL WILLIS HEWITT CHAPTER XII Sterling saw it all now. This rocking hull of a lifeboat was tribunal. He could stand aside and judge himself. All his life he had been lavish, but always giving--not what others craved and hungered- for, but only what money could buy. Now he re- membered: he might have given himself. i a There had been a girl--but it was too late now. He smiled faintly, There was his other, too; she had wanted more than his money could buy her. He looked at Bisa and Nick. They were young; they should be saved. He reached suddenly for his check book. Yes, it was there in his pocket--and his mechan- ical pencil, too. No doubt the checks were ruined, but if he could make it--it was worth a try. He drew himself up, almost fainting from the pain in his leg, but he managed to prop against the seat and get the check book open. The top check was rum- pled. He tore it off. The sec- ond one was better. With fever- ish haste he filled it in, gauging the position of the date, amount and signature by distances from the edge of the book. It would be the nearest his money had ever come to buying happiness, With a tremendous effort he dragged himself over and slipped the check under the edge of the water keg. Cold perspiration stood in beads on his forehead as he crawled back\to his place. There was one other thing he could do for them. If the water lasted long enough, they stood a better chdnce of being saved. After all, there was no one to care abopt him, no one to grieve. He'd wait] until later, when he was sure they were all asleep, Nick stretched out and drew ELECTRIC WELDING No Job TOO Large-- No Job Too Small We repair anything anywhere --any time J. P. KOLLEE Ph. Bronte 25r21 Elsa into the hollow of his arm. She was wet. He threw his coat over her. "Elsa, tell me something." "Wha "Why did you say youd never marry me, why did you lie to me about wanting what Chris could give you?" lie asked sim- ply. "Because you wouldn't listened to the truth" "Truth?" he repeated, puzzled. "That marriage between us would be--would ruin your life." "How?" he asked grimly. Elsa cadght his face between her hands and kissed him. "Lis ten] Nick. We are the whole world apart," Nicl's arms tightened. "It doesn't seem so to me." Elsa was desperate. In broken sentences she told him of her life from a kid, what a struggle it had all been; of the day in Bert's place when she ceased to right; of all the difference in everything about them." "You poor kid," Nick muttered tenderly. "I'll make it all up to you, honest I will, I can make you happy. II--" She interrupted him. "We couldn't make vit, Nick, not with that handicap. I've seen it tried lots of times." Nick turned her face up. "Listen, Elsa, God has given us something for each other. Do you think he didn't know what he was doing? Maybe he made us so sure of it from the very first that he didwt want us to-- because of what you say is a handicap." He kissed her softly on the mouth. "Promise me something," he said. It was an effort even to speak. "Promise yowll marry. me as soon as we're back to port.' "Oh, yes, Nick! I promise-- anything if it will help you." The fourth day, and dawn came slowly. 'Bell, rousing sud-| denly from a strange dream, peered through the sickly, light. Sterling would he wanting water. He dragged himself closer and have 1| rubbed his eyes. Fog, that's what it was, a soft, gray blanket of it. He put out his hand and felt around. Sterling wasn't there. For a moment Bell thought he must be going mad. He felt again and called softly. There was no answer. In a panic he groped his as well as new from your car regularly for an i Engine DRIVE IN TODAY OAKVILLE MOTORS Chevrolet and Oldsmobile SALES and SERVICE PHONE 460 Colborne St. East at Reynolds Vol EE ER GET MOR PAY LESS Savings in fuel and oil bills are yours, ouT OF YOUR CAR! OUT OF YOUR POCKET! pep and efficiency when you see us Tune Up way along the Bottom of the boat waking Elsa. "Gone," he echoed foolishly. He felt his way along to Ster- ling's place. It was empty, Bell was there ahead of him, groping about. They bumped into each other in the fog. Nick's mind, as foggy as the blanket that enveloped them, tried to grasp what Bell was saying. the mail concerning this disease. bership is only one dollar, al- though the society welcomes any additional amount anyone wish to donate to help out for those who may not be able to af- ford a dollar," the speaker stat- "Many people in your neigh- borhood of Halton are benefiting: ed. the latest April Is Cancer Month information "Mem- may ene ers doubt that nearly everyone has; a better idea of what is going on A wi ni 3 ee a a through listening to a part of "Sterling: he's gone," Bell (Continued from Page 1) these broadcasts. nay La whispered. drive for 150,000 additional mem-|made the public mucl 0 cette! 0 Nick dragged himself up, not|bers, the speaker stated, These formed on federal politics 25 5 members would receive through (is pretty obvious that the level of debate has been raised in the house -- especially during = our question period." He said that the people of Australia were very concerned about the possibility of war and that the international situation was discussed as much as it was by the people of this country. 'Thursday, April at, Tuy It was impossible to money for pleasure trave) Australia, he said, as their gram for conservation of | funds was similar to Capgy| Anyone could visit Englang | another country in the. sig] bloc, he! pointed out, b Seay) Troy rg] Mr, Burgess is making op, his periodic business trips 1, continent and flew from yg | lia to the US. He will go to p | land next on the Queen Mary | I can secure accommoatisy shall make the return : boat," he said. r hy trip "He knew about -- about the : water, he must have" he paus-| {rom the services the society ren: ed. "What a man!" he ended|ders. These are free cancer dressings; free transportation to and from clinics and care in clin- ics; a housekeeping service to en- able mothers to take treatment; and the protection of the public against unscrupulous persons who would try to foist supposed cures on them." Money was also advanced for the furtherance of medical research where there was: any "hope that a positive result might be achieved, he pointed out. "But our chief aim is the edu- cation of the public so that we may, by knowledge, drive out fear reverently, They fell back stun- ned into silence by the tragedy of his going. Elsa awoke and called faintly for Nick. He went to her. They had breakfast, a biscuit and not quite half a pannikin of water, groping through the fog for it, not seeing each other, not mentioning Sterling. Nick had told Elsa, very gently, his arms about her. She had sobbed against Nick's shoulder, Later, feeling for his face and drawing it down to "hers, she adel: of cancer and encourage people to "Nick, why did he do 67" see their physicians .immediately ick, didn't answer. Somehow | they suspect anything is wrong-- and at least to visit them twice what Sterling had done wasn't a year for a check up." easy to talk about even to Elsa. Nick knew that if they ever got out of this they'd owe it to Sterling and the fact made a saint of Sterling in his eyes. The speaker said he considered the fight against cancer was where the fight against T.B. had been many years ago. He likened the Cancer society program to the formation of the successful T.B. health program, 'April is Cancer Month on this continent," he said. "The $1.00 membership fee provides cheap They could see each other only dimly, as close as they were, Bell in the other end of the boat might not have been there at all for all they knew, all was so quiet be- yond the veil of fog. Hope had long since vanished, | insurance for those who join, I All that stood between them and|am confident you will have a eternity was the little water left| most successful campaign. You have a reputation for making a success of anything you take on. On behalf of the society, I wish to thank you.) in the keg, bought with the price of Sterling's life. At what they thought was noon they lunched, GOSSARD for the Mature You) Yes, this Gossard is specially designed for the more mature figure] Firmly but gently it slims you, trims you. The front lacing makes for added comfort and ease in adjust ment . . . the strong quality striped coutil wears and wears. Washes well. Let one I of our expert Corsetieres fit you personally, Model 733, { The GWENDOLYN SHOP Phone 1 Oakville not eagerly; they were beyond wanting anything much. Dr. Campbell MacArthur Weakened and wretched in| thanked the speaker on behalf of mind and body, they held together | the club. in the fog. "Will it be much longer?" Elsa Australia Still Ration S! 1 a S He strok- asked feebly. Nick didn't answer. ed her hair with a shaking hand. ick." dear?" "There must be some place-- Some Consumer Items (Continued from Page 1) ecutive said. "They really put afterward where well be to-| everything they have into their gether," her voice trailed off into| tasks, One of the most interest- silence. ing experiments we have had in Almost spent, Nick drew his| Australia recently' is the broad- coat up over her. He, too, fell into| cast of debates in our Federal a. heavy . stupor, bordering on | parliament." He explained that sleep, but 'from which his mind | for 3 hours each night one of the seemed to detach itself and hover national circuits was given up to above his body, fashioning curi-| the ing of pr i ous things. He was sure he heard | when the house was sitting. Both a foghorn. The sound ran along | senate and house of representa- his taut nerves like an electric tives were on broadcast, although shock, the lower house received about twice the time alloted to the up- per. "Of course, I don't suppose many listen to the whole pro- gram," he said. "But tHere is no He turned and drew himself up 1 to call out, to fight off the blank- et of fog, but he was powerless to move. Suddenly something moving in his arms warmed his body, made him able to feel again, to will his muscles to move. He heard Elsa's voice. "Nick, I dreamed we were on a steamer pulling for port. Ther®| was something you / wanted, something I promised to do when we reached port, I don't remem- ber--Nick." Nick made a tremendous ef- fort to tighten his arms, to let her know he heard, The whole world was rocking, going black, then red. They were going out like this after Sterling had given his life. He, wouldn't let go with- out a struggle. His mind in a dull disordered way fitted itself |ness of her gaze filled him with back in his body. He was wide terror. He sank back, pressing awake--or was he dead? He|her face close against his, could see Elsa quite plainly. The| Just then he caught sight of a fog had lifted, Bell lay face down piece of paper lying near the wa- in the bow of the boat, as still as| ter keg, He managed to drag death. himself far enough to reach it. sudden splendor of a sunset sky. 3t was like the dove bearing an olive branch in the days of Noah. He passed his hand across his eyes, and raised on his elbow. Blood beat up in a sickening rush, all but blotting out a ship that was almost upon them, A huge liner! Even now they were low- ering a boat. He could see of- ficers giving orders and the crew busy with the ropes. : He shook Elsa, drew her up in his arms. "Elsa -- look, it wasn't a dream," he shouted. The blank- and shadowy. He held it closer. in a heavenly radiance. A sea- It was Sterling's cheque for $5,- gull spread its wings against the 000 made out to Bisa, blotted and -- [ar but entirely legible. His blurred eyes stared at it fixedly, Dver 14,000 C chsh Aci CANGER 3 out of 10 --over 4,000 of g symptoms are recognized and medi The Canadian Cancer Society's educational prog; awaken our people to a new awareness Cancer with knowledge. Become a member of the CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY Send your Membership Fee of $1 or more to the Over 4,000 can be SAVED! anadians are doomed to die"of Cancer within 12 months. £ those doomed to die can be saved IF Cancer cally treated in the early stages. Rotary Club The Oakville Baske of Cancer, and his fevered brain trying to grasp the magnificence of the gesture. Elsa stirred in his arms. With the check grasped tightly in his hand he made another effort to draw her up on the side of the boat. "It's all right, darling--we're going back to port," he whisper- ed against her cheek. She was like lead in his arm, . but for a little moment her eyes opened, and the light of reason was in them as she gazed fondly at him. She too saw the liner, and smiled weakly before she fell back against him. With his last bit of strength he managed to raise his arm above the: side of the boat in 'answer to the shouts from the ships crew. THE END ram is designed to fight the fear of v of Oakville t Company Lim ed Next Bank of Montreal CHEN Rich, sich pink with the 'assuring blue that wisks from diamonds... . for yest _ nails, your Lips. Lacquer, 75¢. Lipstick, $1.25. Snrt Sev Lacaer, Ire The sea and sky were bathed|In his hand it appeared vague: C- G- SECORD GENERAL CONTRACTOR Industrial and Residential Building i ESTIMATES ON REQUEST ! 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