Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-04-27

t'ASu ~ put dSA Aipo t"AtShSos
Alan" she said. II want you to go
away"
Alan was touched. He caught her
wrists and took her arms from around
his neck. you mustn't do that sort Of
thing to me. Nance. I'm not fit for it,"
He made her sit down on a great sofa
before the fire and sat down beside
her "You remind me today of the
most beautiful thing I ever heard said
of you-by spiteful friend"
what was it," said Nance, turning
her troubled eyes to him.
''She said, She Is only beautiful In
her own home / never understood
it before. It's great thing to be
beautiful in ones own home"
"Oh, Alan" said Nance, catching his
hand and holding it against her breast,
ut is a great thing. It's the greatest
thing in life. That's why l sent for
you-because you are wrecking for
ever your chance of being beautiful in
your own home. And worse than that,
you are wrecking Alix' chances. You
and Alix cannot do this thing. 1t isn't
as though her people and ours were
OF the froth of the nation. You and
she started life with nothing but
Puritan to build on. You may have
built just playhouses Of sand, but deep
down the old rock foundation must
endure. You must take your stand on
that"
Her eyes had been fixed on the fire
but now she turned them to his face.
Alan sat with head hanging forward,
his gaze and thoughts far beyond the
confines Of the room. Then he shook
himself and got up to go. II wish we
| could, Nance" he said gravely and
| then added half to himself, half to her,
''I'n try"
For some days Alan had been pre-
pared to 60 away and take Alix with
| him, should she consent. Upon his ar
| rival he had had an interview with
| McDale g. McDale in the course of
which that firm opened its eyes and
| its pocket wider than 1t ever had be-
| fore. When he left their Offices he had
| contracted more or less on his own
terms and McDale, Junior, said to the
Senior. Hes only twenty Ska boy
How did he beat usy'
"By beating Walton's record first, "
replied McDale, Senior, land how he
did that time will show"
As he walked slowly back from
Nance's, Alan was thinking that after
all there was no reason why he should
not cut and run--no reason except
Alix.
| He reached his rooms. AS he crossed
the threshold he saw that he hat
stepped ON note that had beer
dropped through the letter-slip. H.
picked it up. A thrill went through
him as he recognized Alix's handwrit
ing. There was no stamp. 1t mus
have been delivered b. nand. He tor
1t open and read: "You said that ,
moments notice was all you asked.
will take the Montreal Express witt
you today"
Alan's blood turned to liquid fire
The note conjured before him a vision
of Alix. He crushed it and held it t.
his lips and laughed-not jeeringly bu
In pure, uncontrolled excitement.
1t was not q coincidence that Gerr.
had sought out Alix at the very hou
that Nance was summoning Alan. Ger
ry and Nance were driven by the SAM
forewarning Of catastrophe. Gerry hat
felt it first but he had been slow I,
believe, slower to act. He had n
precedent for this sort Of thing. Hi
whole being was in revolt against tn
situation In which he found himself
1t was after sleepless night-a mos
unheard OF thing with him-that h
decided he could let things go no long
er. He went to Alix' room, knocked
and entered.
Alix was up. though the hour wa
early for her. Fresh from her bath sh
sat In a sheen of blue dressing gowI
before the mirror doing her own hair
Gerry glanced around him and int
the bathroom looking for the maid.
Good morning" said Alix. "She'
not here. Did you want to see herr
He was standing beside an opel
window. He could feel the cold air OF
his hands. He felt like putting hi
head out into II. His head was no,
"Alix," he said suddenly without look
ing at her, II want you to drop Alan.
But / don't want to drop Alan,
replied Alix lightly.
: Gerry whirled around at her tone
His nostrils were quivering. To hi
amazement his hands fairly itched +
clutch her beautiful throat. He coui
= hardly control his voice. stop play
ing. Alix," he gulped. There's neve
: been a divorce among the Lansing
nor a wifebeater and one Ia as nea
this room as the other night now"
Gerry regretted the words as 500
as he had said them but Alix was no
: angry. She looked at him through nal
| rowed eyes. She specialized on tn
Z sensation Of being roughly handled b
! this rock of a man. There was some
. thing tremendous and impressive i
] his anger and struggle for control