The Brandon news., 1916-05-04
CHAPTER ViI-contlnued.

CHAPTER ViI-contlnued.
THAT'S right" said Alix as she fol-
lowed his lead to a cab. She got in
and then shook hands with her escort.
He looked at the dollar bill her grasp
left behind.
"That wasn't called for, Miss. 1t
was enough for me to have saved ye
from a fall"
"You didn't save me-" said Alix with
a bewildering smile. II saved my
self"
She left him scratching his head
over this fresh enigma
Alix was tired and hungry when
she got back home but excitement kept
her up. She felt that she stood on the
threshold of new effort and new life.
After all, she thought, it was she that
had made her dear old Gerry into a
time-server. She could have made him
into anything else if she had tried.
She longed to tell him so. Perhaps he
would catch her and 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 morning." To John, Mr.. Lansing
was a person who had been dead for
some time His present overlords were
Mr.. and Mrs. Gerry and Mrs. Lansing
when she was in town.
Telephone to the club and If he is
there tell him 1 want to see him."
said Alix and turned to her welcome
tea. The sandwiches seemed unusual
Iy small to her ravenous appetite.
Gerry was not at the club. Alix
dressed resplendently 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-past nine Alix or
dered the table cleared. 'I'll not dine
tonight" she said to John. when
your master comes, show him in here"
She sat on in the library listening
for Gerry's step in the hall.
From time to time John came into
the room to replenish the fire. On one
of these occasions Alix told him he
might go to bed but an hour later he
returned and stood in the door. Alix
looked very small, curled up in great
tleathern chair by the fire.
"It's after one o'clock, ma'am," said
John. "Mr. Gerry won't be coming
in tonight" Alix made no answer.
John hefd his ground. "It's time for
you to go to bed, ma'am. Shall |
call the maid?"
Alix was exhausted but 1t was long
before she fell asleep. She cried soft
ly. She wanted to be comforted. She
had dressed so beautifully-she had
been so beautiful-and Gerry had not
come home. AS she cried, her disap-
pointment grew into great trouble.
She awoke early from feverish
sleep. Immediately a sense Of weight
assailed her. She rang and learned
that Gerry had not yet come home.
Then his words Of yesterday suddenly
came to her. 'If dropped out Of the
world today" Alix stared wide
eyed at the ceiling. Why had she re-
membered those words? She lay for a
long time thinking. Her breakfast
was brought to her but she did not
touch it. 1t was almost noon in the
cloudy Sunday morning when she
reused herself from apathy She
sprang from the bed. She summoned
Judge Healey with note and Mrs.
Lansing with a telegram. The tele-
gram was carefully worded, please
come and stay for while. Gerry is
away"
The Judge found Alix radiating the
freshness of a beautiful woman care
full of her person, but it was the fresh
ness of a pale flower. Alix was grave
and her gravity had sweetness that
made the judges heart bound. He
felt an awakening In her that he had
long watched for. She told him all
the story of the day before in steady
monotone that omitted nothing and
gave the facts only their own weight.
When she finished the Judge patted
her hand. ''You would make splen-
did witness, my DEAR" he said. Nov,
what you want is for me to find Gerry
and bring him back, isn't it? Are you
sure Gerry knew nothing of your-er
excursion to the station?"
Alix shook her head. From the
time he left my room and the house
ne has not been back"
HAS he been to the club?"
ANx eclored family. Il see" said