Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-26
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THE NOVEL OF THE YEAR 64sgS4Sl1AS 94 GE09GsA tS E.

from The porter was abour to dro,
the trap on the steps AHx slipped h,
nun With all her force she pushed ono,
the door and jumped The train was NOV
| ing very slowly but Alix reclcd and woilt
! nave fallen had IL not been for a n,esine
! bnggogeman. He caueht her and etiI
IN his arms, AliS looked back AIon's
Whlte race was at tho window. He looked
Y steadily at her. ''''>T
| fe almost wint with him, Miss" said
| the bagRageman, with a fun bropuo and
! a twInkling eye. '''
How did you know" said Alix, da2cd
Al the strange question the baRgaue-
mans long upper lip drew down to grav-
| ity. Where dye think I was whin vc
| stpt OFT the thrain into me arms?" he
| asked sOlcmnly.
AhN had released herself and his quaint
question brought her to her senses She
looked at him He was n mass of bnrIv
Nndliness surmountcd by a shock of gray
mar There, there" she said cOnciliat-
ihgly vt was foolish question win YOU
set me cab? don't want n porter. i"
NO fear Miss said the haggagcman
II hand Ee over to no nnygur, IT they
saF' anything 10 me TIT tell 'um we're
friends The smile was back in his face
hd the twinkle in his eye. He started
oit, his gray head cooked to one side.
Ihats right said Alx, MS she fol-
lowed his lead to a cab. She rot in, and
then shook hands with her escort He
behind
THAT wasn't called for. Miss. 1t was
enough for me to have saved you from
fall"
You didn't save me-" said Nlix with
n bewildering smile II saved myself"
She left him scratching his head over
this fresh enigma
AliN wag ttrp1 mud b,,,,1r,. ,,t,a,,
got back home, but excitement kept her
up She felt that she stood on the thresh-
old of new effort and new life. After
ALL she thought. it was she that had made
her dear old Gerry into timc-scrvcr.
She could have made him into anything
else If she had tried. She longed to tell
him so. Perhaps he would catch her aud
crush her in his arms as Alan had done.
She laughed at herself for wanting him
to- She rang for the butler. Where's
your master, john"
'I don't know, ma'am. Mr.. Gerry hasn't
come back since he went out this morn
ing. To John Mr.. Lansing was a per-
son who had been dead for some time.
His present Ovcrlyrds were Mr. and Mrs
Gerry and Mrs. Lansing when she was in
town
Telephone to the club, and If he is
there tell him | want to see him." said
AliX and turned to her welcome tea The
ravenous appetite.
Gerry was not at the club. Alx dressed
rnsplendcntly for dinner Never had she
dressed for any other man with the care
that she dressed for Gerry that night
But Gerry did not come. At half-pnst
nine AliX ordered the table cleared. "I'u
not dine tonight" she said to John
when your master comes, show him in
here" She sat on In the library listen
ing for Gcrry's step in the hall.
From time to time John came into the
room to replenlsh the fire. on one of
these occasions AliN tod him he might
20 to bed but an hour later he returned
and stood in the door. Alix looked very
small curled up in Il great leathern chair
by the fire.
IT'S after l o'clock, ma'am" said John.
Mr., Gerry won't be coming in tonight
AliX made no answer. John held his |
ground. ITS time for you to 20 to bed, |
ma'am Shall | call the maid?'
1t was a long time since John had talk |
IN any apparent intcrest-in his mistress. !
AliX had avoided him. She had felt that |
The old servant disapprovcd of her.
More than once she had though of dis |
charging him, but he had never given |
Ter grounds that would Justify her be- |
ore Gerry. Now he was ordering her to |
led ana instead of being angry she was
;oothed. She wondered how she could !
'ver have though of discharsing him
lie seemed strong and restful more like
)art of the old house than servant.