The midland journal., 1916-04-28

cteaFeu MS tratk Tor nimr IneMs was
all the things be said should tell
yoH."
Kemp stopped talking and downed
his drink. Alan sat silent and thought
full. Lieber was gone and made gap
in his life that he never knew had been
filed. He wanted to know more. He
turned to Kemp. "Well?"
"You remember the joa tree at Lie
ber's, Mr.. Wayne? One o. the lone
soonest trees on earth, / reckon, except
when the Booganvfller comes out an
then It's happy mountain o. red and
pu'ple that kind O. lights up the hull
DESERT
Alan nodded.
@Well, then, you remember the big
bowlder of graywacke under the tree.
That's Lieber's headstone. He had a
mason up from the coast and he made
us carry him out under the tree to
watch the man work. He give him
model cut into q boa'd to copy I'm.
I'm some reader. but them words beat
me every time. corraIled 'ern on a
bit O. paper, though. an here they be-"
Kemp drew slip Of paper from the
same old wallet that housed "The
Purple City" He handed it to Alan
"Wish you'd put me on" he said. GAIL
know is it, amt American an 1t
amt Mex"
The words on the slip looked as If
they had been printed by child with
painstaking care Alan stared as he
saw them. "Qui de nous ma pas en-
sa terre promise, son jour d'extase, ct
sa fin en- exil?" he read slowly to him
self, and then, with his eyes far away,
translated for Kemp. "'Who Of us has
not had his promised land, his day of
ecstasy and his end in exile?"
Kemp nodded and held out his hand
for the slip of paper. He put it back
in his wallet and said. II suppose the
feller thet wrote that was thinkin'
mostly of mans mind. but when it
comes to facts them words don't fit
Lieber He got more exile than was
comm to him; 1t ct up the ecstasy an
more Of the promised land. But
dom know. They's lots Of folks that
needs to worry more'n Lieber over
crossin' the divide"
They sat thoughtful for some time
and then Alan remembered Red Hill.
where are you staying, KempT
"Astor house"
Alan looked at his watch. sCome
on he said. We've got to hustle.
We've just got time to rush down and
get your bag"
'sWhat for" drawled Kemp.
81 was bound for our place out in
the country when found you. We've
got Just forty minutes to catch the
train. You're coming with me-"
A wary look came into Kemp's eyes.
.sYour folks out there, Mr.. Wagner
he asked.
"Yes," said Alan. and then added,
Kemp, do you take me for man that
would steer you up against game
you don't hold cards in?"
'No," said Kemp, II DON'T and
then found himself hated and hurried
into a taxi before he could further pro-
test.
If Alan had any qualms about intro
ducing Kemp to Red Hill they were
soon allayed. Kemp was duly present
ed on the lawn at Maple House. To
everything in petticoats he took off his
hat and said "ma'am," but before the
men he stood hated and vouchsafed a
short "Howdyw accompanied by a
handshake where 1t was invited.
Strange to Kemp must have seemed
the group Of which he found himself
the center. At a tea table under the
biggest maple sat Mrs. j. Y. She called
Kemp and motioned to chair beside
her. Kemp let his lanky frame down
slowly on the fragile structure, took Off
his domed hat and laid it on the grass
at his side. For an instant Mrs. J. Y.
fixed her soft, myopic gaze on him and
then looked away. Glen brought him
a cup of tea and biscuit. Kemp held
the cup and saucer in the hollow of
his hand and looked obviously at their
contents. would you like something
else, Mr.. Kemp?" asked Mrs. J. Y.
softly, ''some other drink, mean?"
Kemp's quick eye royed over the
group. He saw that nobody was TAX
ing anything but tea and at the same
time he noted gratefully that nobody
was watching him. The judge and
j. Y. were talking to each other.
Nance, Junior, and Cousin Tom were
kneeling before Gerry, Junior, stolen
for short hour from Alix. That
dwarf Moloch, arrayed in starchy
white that stuck out like ballet skirt
above his sturdy. fat legs. was grayely
devouring sacrifice of cake. Charlie
Sterling lay full length on the ground
while his brood, with shrill cries at his
frequent eruptions, buried and re-
buried him with sofa pillows. Nance,
Alan and Glenn slipped tea and cheered
on the children's efforts.
Kemp turned twinkling eye on
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