Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-05-04


- ssnlssaA asswfy she reached ona
apad over and placed 1t In Mrs. Ian.
sing's. lyon are crying because yos
are q granny now" she said. softly.
playfully.
Then came the day when Alix was
strong strong enough. Mrs. Lansing
told her in choked voice what thsy
knew and what everyone believed.
She cried softly In Alix' arms.
Poor mother!'' said Alix. her NJ
against the wet cheek. "How strs09
you've been! How you hid 1t fron
me! What burden to carry In your
heart. and smile. But listen, dear
mummy. You are all wrong. Perhaps
l would not have known Ii II yen
had told me--then--hut know II now.
Gerry il not dead. There is no river
that can drown Gerry"
Alix chung to her belief. so strong
was her faith that Mrs. Lansing he
came infected, but the Judge held out
against them. My heart In with you,"
he said. Mt the end OF months. but
my head won't turn. A naked man
EVEN In South America would have
caused remark. Why shouldn't he
have come back for his clothes, for his
money! After all, he wasn't a fugi-
tive from Justice. He was n man
wandering over the earth In pursuit Of
mere within and within doesn't last
forever"
Alix interrupted him. Judge,
have never been angry with you. We
all owe you too much. But IL you
ever say was about Gerry again.
She stopped and bit her lip but her
eyes spoke for her
"My dear girl" said the Judge and
only his color showed that he was
hurt, don't be angry with me. II
shall be ms you say. I've only been
trying to save you from years OF
weary waiting. II you have the cour.
age to wait for sorrow. shall wait
too"
Alix kissed him. There" she said,
I'm sorry I was rough"
"You! roughr' laughed the Judge
Then he jumped up. I'm forgetting
my duties. have i guest OF my very
own at Maple House and l must 60 "a
him."
A few weeks before, Hon. Percy
Collingeford had locked UP the Judge
II was MS much pleasure to the
young man as duty he owed to hii
father, whose friend the Judge had
been for many years.
Collingeford was no stranger Il
America but he knew far more abou,
lodging arroyos In New Mexico on q
cow pony than he did about lodging
the open trenches and debris Ut Fifth
avenue on the trail of tea-party. Ht
| was an Englishman, younger sor
with enough money to put him above
| the remittance class, and he was pos
sessed Of far more intelligence than
he had been born with. for, from his
| youth up, he had sought out expert
ence In many places. He came bach
from the Klondike with more money
than he needed for his passage bu1
only few kindred spirits knew tina,
he had made II hammering the piano
In The Fallen Star of Hope. He had
the English gentleman's common
creed: ride straight, shoot straight. tut
often and talk the kings English. tina,
creed fulfilled, nothing else seemed
to worry him. .
He was dining with the Judge al
the club one night when the name OF
Wayne--Aian Wayne--foated over oc
casionally from a neighboring table
Later as they sat over their coffee and
cigars Collingeford said abruptly, u
know chap named Wayne"
"So" said the Judge. .s
Heard those people mention Altar
Wayne" explained Collingeford. ~
wonder II 1t was the same one---Ter
Percent Wayne OF Africa"
That's the one" said the judgy
and watched Colliugeford's face.
Hum" said Collingeford. when
saw Wayne he was in shirt sleeves
and battered sun helmet. There ars
some men that won't shake hands
with him, but I'm MT one OF them"
1t was then that the Judge decided
to take Collingeford to Maple House
4