The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-06-02


not think any more. A great weight
lay on his brain. The ten minutes
doze In the chair az AIan's bedside had
not been rest, but nightmare. Pres
emily he fell into sleep. deep sleep
that was all Inconsistencies.
II was almost night when he awoke
and with the awakening the weight
settled back on his brain. only now be
had the strength to think in spite OF IT.
He got up and went out in search OF
Iieber. Lieber heard him and came
out into the hall Gerry nodded
towards Alan's room. "It's all right.
Mr. Lansing. He must have solid
mind Your talk didn't excite him
didn't even disturb his sleep. He's on
the road up--weak, a baby. but he's
started life again. He's asked for you
twice. Seems to have something he's
got to get on his chest to you. You'd
better go In"
Gerry sat down once more beside
Alan, The questions he must ask
crowded to his lips, but he forced them
back. He tested his strength with res
olutions and held them. 1t was his
way OF reassuring himself. He want
ed to feel his firmness rising in him to
meet the struggle he felt must come
when Alan spoke.
Alan knew he was there He saw
him through half-closed eyes, but.
more than that, he felt him. His
brows puckered in a frown. 1t was
still hard to use words Gerry. last
night ! wanted TO tell you more only
couldn't had to sleep. AK didn't
go with me. She only came to the
train. When | kissed her she woke
up and found she wasn't-carnal after
all. She went back home. You didn't
turn up. You never turned up, They
traced you TO river, an empty ca
noe - pyjamas - you know" He
stopped and sighed as though his task
were over.
The veins on Gerry's forehead stood
out in knots. His chin rested on his
clenched hands, his elbows on his
knees. Alan" he said. where is
Alix now? What has she donef'
Alan opened his eyes and looked at
him. ''She is waiting. She hns always
waited for you to come back. She
would not believe you were dead, be-
cause OF the boy"
"The boyw groaned Gerry. what
boy?"
Yours" said Alan. HE is n great
boy. There Is a new Alix since he
came. She is as far from me and
what she was as the stars. She Is a
steady star. But it's all right now.
You'll go back to her.
II can't" whispered Gerry hoarsely,
more 10 himself than to Alan. eve
got wife here. I've got child here
To me he Is my first-born."
Alan's eyes opened, this time in won
der. A twisted smile came to his lips.
Your he said. Your and then the
smile changed TO a faint disgust. He
turned his head on the pillow away
from Gerry and slept.
The next morning found Gerry still
at Lieber's. Outside the heavenly
bowl OF blue was virgin OF clouds. Ii
stretched and domed in a sphered eter-
nifty Of emptiness. Through Its de-
pressing void the sun swan slowly,
pitiIessly. as though II were loath to
mark the passing minutes The whole
earth baked. Strong trees wlIted and
turned up the wrong sides of their
leaves on the sea of heat like dying
fish turning up their white bellies at
the last gasp Not a breath of air
stirred. Heat rose from the ground In
an unbroken. visible wave. my God"
said Alan, gazing with wistful. far
seeing eyes beyond the familiar, repel-
lent scene. "a homeward fever
parches up my tongue" There was
such an agony OF longing in the words
that Gerry was frightened. He looked |
questloningly at Lieber.
"No," said Lieber. 'the's not dying. |
He was dying, but he's changed his |
mind. He's going to go home instead"
Il believe he's right. Gerry" said |
Alan with faint smile. But didn't |
change my mind. He did 1t for me. |
He's in line for life-saving medal.
Lieber's all right" He stopped. tired |
out.
Lieber began 10 talk TO Gerry. |
''How's the water in the ditch. Mr.. |
Mighty low" said Gerry. He spoke |
almost t-mindedly. For the first |
time In months the ditch was far from
his thoughts.
''It's hard luck" said Lieber. THE
rivers never been so low before-not |
In the memory OF man. We do not |
hear the falls any more. The river is
asleep. Do you want me TO send my
men down againT
ITS no use" said Gerry. Il don't |
dare deepen the ditch any more. It's
way below the normal level now"
Alan stirred What's that about a
ditchY
In unhurried phrases and low
voice Lieber told him the history OF |
Fazenda Flores since Gerry's advent |
and Of the great part the ditch had |