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DIAMONDS TO SIT ON

door through which she had just come had been quietly shut and locked by some careful hand She ran downstairs again to the glass-panelled door, sat down, and began to think of her miserable plight. Now and again she dozed as she waited for the morning to come. ° yellow light from the corridor lamps poured through the glass panels on to the widow, and the grey morning light began to creep through the staircase window. Suddenly the widow heard footsteps in the corridor on the other side of the door, and as she stood up and pressed her face against the glass, she saw a pale blue waistcoat flash at the other end of the corridor Bender came slowly towards the door, flicking the dust from his coat. called the widow through the door Darhng ! Swee-t-heart ! ’ She breathed on the glass panel with inexpressible tenderness until a warm haze came over it, and through the haze she could see that exquisite colour, pale blue. Bender had not heard the widow’s cooing, for he was too worried. Another minute and he would vanish out of her sight. With a desperate cry of ‘ Comrade •.K strum on the glass with her knuckles. The great schemer turned round. Oho ! he said, as he realized that he was separated from his wife by a locked door. ' Are you here too ? ’ Yes ! Yes ! ’ she panted joyfully. your arms round me, my love,’ said Bender mwkmgly. It is so long since we were together.’ thp agitated and threw herself against tne door hke a bird in a cage. stretched out his arms. Vr. to me, my darhng wife ? Your husband is so tired of being alone.’ ’ thA implored for the fifth time. * Open the door. Comrade Bender ! ’