The Glenwood post., 1916-04-08
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the old house than servant. Alix
got up. "No, don't call the maid.
won't need her." she said Then she
added, Goodnight, john" as she
passed out.
John held wide the door and bowed
with a Difference that was touch more
sincere than usual. He answered,
Goodnight" as If he meant 1t.
Alix was exhausted but 1t was long
before she fell asleep. She cried soft
ly. She wanted to be comforted. She
had dressed so beautifully-she had
been SO beautiful-and Gerry had not
come home. As she cried, her disap-
pointment grew into great trouble.
She awoke early from a feverish
sleep. Immediately sense of weight
assafled her. She rang and learned
that Gerry had not yet come home.
Then his words of yesterday suddenly
came to her. "If dropped out Of the
world today" Alix stared wide
eyed at the ceiling. Why had she re-
membered those words? She lay for
long time thinking. Her breakfast
was brought to her but she did not
touch it. 1t was almost noon in the
cloudy Sunday morning when she
reused herself from apathy. She
sprang from the bed. She summoned
Judge Healey with note and Mrs.
Lansing with a telegram. The tele-
gram was carefully worded, please
come and stay for a while. Gerry is
away"
The judge found Allx radiating the
freshness of beautiful woman care
full Of her person, but it was the fresh
ness of pale flower. Alix was grave
and her gravity had sweetness that
made the judges heart bound. He
felt an awakening In her that he had
long watched for. She told him all
the story of the day before in a steady
monotone that omitted nothing and
gave the facts only their own weight.
When she finished the Judge patted
her hand. you would make a splen-
did witness. my dear" he said. "Now,
what you want is for me to find Gerry
and bring him back, isn't 1t? Are you
sure Gerry knew nothing of your-er
excursion to the station?"
Alix shook her head. "From the
time he left my room and the house
he has not been back"
Has he been to the club7" I'd
Alix colored family. 81 see," said
the judge quickly. "I'll ask there.
I'll go now" He went off and all
that day he sought in vain for trace
of Gerry. He went to all his haunts
in the clty-he had telephoned to those
outside. At night he returned to Alix
but it was Mrs. Lansing that received
him in the library.
The judge was tired and his buoy
ancy had deserted him. He told her
Of his failure. Mrs. Lansing was
thoughtful but not greatly troubled.
Gerry" she said, ''has level head.
He can take care Of himself" She
went to tell Alix that there was no
news. When she came back the Judge
turned to her. "Well," he asked, what
did she sayT" -......
Nothing. except that she wanted to
know II you had tried the bank"
The Judge struck his fist into his
left hand. ''Never thought Of it." he
said. THAT child has headr He
went to the telephone. From the presi-
dent of the bank he traced the man
ager, from the manager, the cashier
Yes, Gerry had been at the bank on
Saturday. The cashier remembered 1t
because Mr.. Lansing had drawn a GER
tain account in full. He would not
say how much. 0-
'4There." said the Judge with a sigh
Of relief, that's something. 1t takes
q steady nerve to draw q bank ac-
count in full. You must take the news
upstairs. I'm OF. I'll follow up the
clue tomorrow"
There was a new look Of content
mingled with the worry in Mrs. Ian.
sings lace that made the Judge say ~
he held out his hand In farewell
Things better7" ....
Mrs. Lansing understood him. "Yes,"
she answered, and added, 1--WE have
been crying together" N'
Mrs. Lansing and Alix had never
given themselves to each other. There
had been no warfare between them
but equally there had never been un-
.derstanding. To Mrs. Lanslng's In,
herent calm, Alix' scintillaton had
been repellent and Alix before Gerry's
mother had felt much the same re-
straint as before Gerry's old butler.
There had been strength in Mrs.
Lansing's calm. She had been waiting
and now the waiting was over.n1 Alixl
had given herself, fearful and almost
wordless into arms that were more
than ready and had then poured out
her heart in broken tale that would
have confounded any court Of Justice
but which between women was cleSrer
than logic. rigt lf ''iisssl ifrne
At tie end Mr.. Lansins sid petb-
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