Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-06-29

the Elenic steamed slowly down the
SOlent. He was already comfortably
established in his chair with small
pile of fiction beside him.
She paused before she approached
him. Alan had always interested her.
Alix had thought of him heretofore
as modern exquisite subject to atavic
fits that, in times past, had led him
into more than one barbarous eS-a1.-
pade. Now in London she had by chance
heard things of him that forced her to
readjustment of her estimate In six
months Alan had turned himself into q
mystery.
We'll" she said, coming up behind
him, chow are your
Alan turned his head slowly and
then threw off his rugs and sprang
to his feet.
mere names. Nothing matters to me
but you"
self. He did not begrudge the Judge
his triumph. He knew instinctively
that coming from him instead of from
the judge the picture would not have
struck that intimate spark
The next day Gerry gave his consent
to Alix' plan for a flying trip abroad,
but with a reservation. The reserva-
ton was that she should join some
party and leave him behind.
Judge Healey heard of this arrange
ment only when it was on the point
of being put into effect In fact he
was only just in time at the steamer
to wave gOod-by to AK Leaning
over the rail, with her high color, moist
red lips and big excited eyes making
play under a golden crown of hair and
over a huge armful of roses, Alix
presented a picture not easily forgot
ten.
The judge turned to Gerry. "She
ought not to be going without you,
my boy"
ooh, it's all right" said Gerry light
". "She's well chaperoned. It's a
big party, you know"
But during the weeks that followed
the judge saw 1t was not all right
Gerry had less and less time for golf
sOdas. The judge was troubled and
felt a sort of relief when from far
away Alan Wayne cropped into his af-
fairs and gave him something else to
think about
When Angus McDale of McDaIe and
McDaIe called without appointment
the judge knew at once that he was
going to hear something about Alan.
Lucky to find you in" puffed Nc
Dale. at isn't business exactly or
I'd have 'phoned. L was just passing
by"
well, what is it?" asked the judge,
offering his visitor fresh cigar
ITS this. That boy, Alan Wayne
sort Of protege of yours, isn't he?"
"Yes-in way-yes," said the
judge slowly, frOwning. What has
Alan done now?''
ITS like this,' said McDale "Six
months ago we sent Mr.. Wayne out on
contract as assistant to Walton Wal
ton no sooner got CD the ground than
he fell sick. He put Wayne in charge
and then he died Now this Is the
point. Mr.. Wayne seems to have pro-
noted himself to Walton's pay. He
had the cheek to draw his own as well.
He won't be here for weeks but his
accounts came IN today. | want to
know IL you see any reason why we
shouldn't have that money back, TO say
the least"
The judges face cleared. Didn't he
tell you why he drew Walton's pay?"
''Not a word Said he'd explain &C
counts when he got here but that sort
of thing takes a lot Of explaining"
well" said the judge, 81 can tell
you. Waiton's pay went to his widow
through me. I've been doing some
I'VE live" she said, 'in a Philistine
age, don't we? But I've never let any
PhilistinisLl drive pictures from their
right place In the heart. Pictures in
art galleries." she shrugged her pref
ty shOulders-"I have not been trained
up to them. To me, they are mount
ed butterflies in a museum, cut flow
ers crowded at the florists But this
picture and that nook-they have
waited for each other. You see the
picture nesting down for long rest
md it seems Snail thing and then
t catches your eye and holds it and
you see that 1t is little door that