Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-20
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1t was with some misgivings that
Kemp left Alan at the coast Alan was
still very weak. Kemp stood, more in
congruOus than ever, against the rail-
Of the little coaster bound for Pernam-
buc0 and eyed Alan, whom he had
made comfortable in a camp bed on
the deck
at seems to ME, Mr.. Wayne" he
said. that there mought be business
waftin' for me at pernambuco tibet /
DON know nOthin' about I've got
bunch I'd best go along of you and
see"
Alan smiled 81 know what your
bunch is, Kemp, and it's wrong one
I'm all right. Weak, but I'll make it.
Don't worry"
Kemp was standing in angles His
hands were thrust in his trousers peck
cts, but even so his elbows were
crooked, One foot was raised on a
rail. He was coatless as usual. His
unbuttoned vest stuck out behind. His
Stetson hat was pulled we'll down over
his eyes. His eyes had taken on the
far-away and slightly luminous look
that always came into them when he
was about to speak from the heart
'Mr. Wayne" he said, I've toP you
some things about Lieber an you've
seen some more. You know how be
stands. Lieber's livin' in hell, like a
rich greaser in the Bible with his
tongue stuck out beggin' for one drop
of water, only Lieber hain't got his
tongue stuck out-he's bitin' it."
Kemp paused and Alan nodded.
81 was thinkin'," Kemp continued,
"thet perhaps you'n Mr.. Lansing, with
yo' folks he'pin', mOught chuck him
that drop O. water when you got back
to heaven, meanin' Moo Yawk" Kemp
brought his eyes slowly around and
rested them on Alan.
Kemp" said Alan, don't you wor-
ry. If J. Y. Wayne & Co. haven't gone
to smash or the world otherwise come
to an end, you can be sure LiGber will
get his water in a full bucket"
Kemp nodded and with a "S'long
and good luck" disappeared down the
gangWay.
At Pernambuco Alan found an ac-
emulation of mail awaiting him and
a liner bound for home. The liner was
too big to get into the little harbor be-
hind the reef. She rode the swell a.
mile out from shore.
Alan lost no time in making hfs
transfer. From the tender he was
winched up to the deck in a passenger
basket AS he left the wicker coop
he smiled at himself in disgust Ten
Percent Wayne had often jumped for
a gangway from the top Of a flying
sea; never before had he gone on board
as cargo. But the smile suddenly left
his face He reeled and put out one
hand toward a rail. Somebody caught
his arm and led him to a long chair
He sank into it and shivered.
1t was girl that had helped him
AS soon as she saw he was not going
to faint she left him, to come back
presently with the doctor and a room
steward They took charge Of him.
Day after day Alan lay in his cabin,
lstleSs, before he thought of his batch
Of letters They were still in the.
pocket of his coat. He asked the stew.
ard to hand them to him. looked
through them. picked out one and laid
the rest aside. The one he picked out
was Clems.
With her own peculiar wisdom Glenn
had written not about him or herself
but about Red Hill. Alan read and
tben dropped the letter to his lap. His
hands fell clenched at his sides. Ills
eyes, grown large, stared out down the
long vista Of the mind Walls faded
away and the sounds of a great ship
at sea were suddenly dumb. To his
ears came instead the caroling Of birds
in evening song after rain, to his eyes
a vision OF Red Hill dripping light
from it's myriad leaves and to his
heart the protecting, brooding shelter
of Maple House--of home.
1t cleanses a mans soul to have been
at deaths door Sickness. more than
love, leads man up. Alan was feel
ing cleansed-like a little child-so it
seemed a quite natural thing that the
girl who had taken charge of him on
his arrival on board should knock at
his door and then walk in. She drew
out a camp-stOol and sat down beside
him.
She was very small ard very young,
not in years but with what Alan
termed to himself acquired youth. Her
nearsighted eyes peered out through
big glasses. They seemed to see only
when they made a special effort, and
yet they seemed to give out light.
you are better" she asked, and
smiled
Alan caught his breath at that smile.
yes" he said, Il am much better to-
day. | have had a letter from home"
You must get up now and come
up on deck" said the girl. Cpl wait
for you outside" Her voice had a PEI
culiar meditation. 1t attracted and
sC0thed the ear
Alan frowned and then smiled. GAIL