The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-04-01
said, IT am at home. Tell him I will


see him at any time today"
Collingeford lost no time. When he
arrived Alix was still sitting on the
veranda. She received him there. He
came upon her with a rush-like a
fresh breeze. "What luck" he cried.
REALLY in town on q hot summers
day?
Which is It? Frocks or the dentist? ?"
Alix rose and held out her hand. A
faint smile came to her face. fingered
a moment and passed. Il am glad YOU
have come" she said. and then paused
Her eyes wavered. Was she glad he
had come?
Collingcford caught her mood. "Just
what do you mean by that?" he asked
gravely.
Alix' eyes came back to his face.
FL don't know" she stammered.
They sat down. Collingeford dropped
his hat and stick and leaned for
ward. A dull color burned in his
cheeks. GAIN" he said. 'has-has
anything happcned?"
NO." said Aix. mot what Won
mean. Gerry is alive. He has writ
ten. He says he is coming back
some time"
Collingeford sprang to his feet, his
eyes flashing.
"some time! Did he really write
that? Some time?"
There was petulant look abou,
Alix' mouth that belonged to an AK
Of long ago. She tried to shake It or
with her mood. NO" she said DULY.
after pause. "He didn't write lust
that but it amounts to the same thing.
He wrote but he has not come"
Collingeford paced III and down the
little veranda. his arms crossed and
one hand pulling ncrvorsly at his mus.
tache. He came to stop before Ak
his tall. lank form. Kemp held his hat
III his hand and twisted it ncrvously.
Mis- lansing" he said, II want
you should let me say few words to
We. l seen Mister Lansing bout five
weeks ago"
ak sprang to her feet, her pale
cheeks afiame. "Yes?" she said.
"When-when is he coming?" She
sank down again and buried her face
In her hands. The shame of putting
that question to 6 stranger over
whelmed her.
Kemp sat down near her. "Sho, Mis-
lansing he said, don you take it
hard that you're gettin word Of Mr..
Lansing through me. Him an me an
LieDer's ben most pardners."
Tenderness had crcpt into Kemp's
drawl Alix looked up PLEASE" she
said. tell me all about him-all about
these years."
Kemp hesitated before he spoke. II
amt got the words her the right to
tell you all about them three years.
Mis- Lansing, an can't tell you all
about Mr.. Lansing, cause the biggest
part O. some men don't meet the eye
It's inside on 'en. Thet's the way 1t
Is with MIR. Lansing. c'n tell you,
though, tibet Mr. Lansing is well an
strong-strong enough to swing steer
by the tail.
"Thats what know. Now I'll tell
ye some O my thoughts. MIR. Lansing
want born to be IL maverick. Right
now, I'm willin' to wager, he's headed
for home ana the corral, but he ain
comm on the run-hc's browsin' ant
chewin' his cud.
"When l seen him five weeks ago
thought Oh hog-tyin' him an bringin
him along, cause Mr.. Wayne had tol
me about you an the two-year-old. But
1t come to me that n woman of sperit-
one Of ourn-wouldn't want her man
should he brought in. Shed sooner
he'd hog-tie hisseff."
Alix' head hung in thought. Hel
hands were claspcd in her lap. Al
Kemp's last words sank in the first
smile Of many days came to her lips
Kemp rose and said goodby. With
his hat pulled well over his brows and
his hands in his pockets. he slouched
toward the gate.
Alix jumped up and followed him
She laid her thin, light hand on hi,
arm. "I'hank you," she said. little
breathlcssly. Kemp's deep-set eye,
| twinkled down on her He held Ou
his big, rough hand and Alix grippet
1t.
"Not good-by," she said.