Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-06-29

Aooi. S0hEy lay cAAauolSu- ne COuiu
not think any Acre. A great weight
lay on his brain. The ten minutes
doze In the chair at Aian's bedside had
not been rest. but nightmare Pres
emily he fell into sleep, deep sleep
that was all Inconsistencies.
1t was almost night when he awoke
and with the awakening the weight
settled back on his brain. only now he
had the strength to think in spite Of ii.
He got up and went out In search OF
Lieber. Lieber heard him and came
out into the hall. Gerry nodded
towards Alan's room. Its all right.
Mr. Lansing. He must have a solid
mind. Your talk didn't excite him
didn't even disturb his sleep. He's on
the road up-weak. a baby, but he's
started life again. He's asked for you
twice. Seems to have something he's
got to get Off his chest to you. You'd
better 60 in" .5.
Alan. The questions he must ask
crowded to his fps, but he forced them
back. He tested his strength with res.
olutions and held them. 1t was his
way Of reassuring himself. He want
ed to feel his firmness rising In him to
meet the struggle he felt must come
when Alan spoke.
Alan knew he was there. He saw
him through half-closed eyes, but.
more than that he felt him. His
brows puckered In frown. II was
still hard to use words. Gerry. last
night i wanted to tell you more only
couldn't. had to sleep. AK didn't
60 with me. She only came to the
train. When I kissed her she woke
up and found she wasn't-carnal after
all. She went back home. You didn't
turn up. You never turned up. They
traced you to river. an empty ca
noe - pyjamas you know" He
stopped and sighed as though his task
were over.
The veins on Gerry's forehead stood
out In knots. His chin rested on his
clenched hands, his elbows on his
knees. "Alan," he said, where is
Alix now? What has she done"
Alan opened his eyes and looked at
him. "She is waiting. She has always
waited for you to come back. She
would not believe you were dead, be-
cause Of the boy"
1.-THE boy.' groaned Gerry. "What
boy7"
Yours" said Alan. "He Ia a great
boy. There Is new Alix since he
came She Is as far from me and
| what she was as the stars. She is a
| steady star. But it's all right now.
You'll go back to her"
II can't" whispered Gerry hoarsely.
| more to himself than to Alan. I've
got a wife here. I've got child here.
To me he is my 6rst-born."
Alan's eyes opened. this time in won
der. A twisted smile came to his lips.
Your he said. Your and then the
smile changed to faint disgust. He
turned his head on the pillow away
from Gerry and slept.
The next morning found Gerry still
at Lieber's. Outside the heavenly
bowl Of blue was virgin Of clouds. 1t
| stretched and domed In sphered eter-
| nifty of emptiness. Through its de-
pressing void the sun swan slowly.
pitilessly. as though 1t were loath to
mark the passing minutes. The whole
ca nth baked Strong trees wilted and
turned up the wrong sides OF their
leaves on the sea of heat like dying
| fish turning up their white bellies at
| the last gasp Not a breath of air
| stirred. Heat rose from the ground In
an unbroken, visible wave. MY God"
| said Alan, gazing with wistful. far
seeing eyes beyond the familiar. repel-
| lent scene, "a homeward fever
| parches up my tongue There was
| such an agony Of longing in the words
that Gerry was frightened. He looked
questioningly AZ lieber.
"No," said Lieber, hes not dyiRg.
He was dying. but he's changed his
mind. He's going to 60 home instead"
II believe he's right Gerry" sad
Alan with a faint smile. But didn't
change my mind. He did 1t for me-
He's in line for a life-sa wing medal.
| Lieber's all right" He stopped. tired
| out.
Lieber began to talk to Gerry
| "How's the water In the ditch, Mr..
LansingY
Mighty low" said Gerry. He spoke
almost absent mindedly. For the flrst
time In months the ditch was far from
his thoughts.
Its hard luck" said Lieber. The
rivers never been 30 low before-not
In the memory Of man. We do not
hear the falls any more. The river Is
asleep. Do you want me to send my
men down again?"
ats no use" said Gerry. II don't
dare deepen the ditch any more It's
| way below the normal level now"
Alan stirred. Whats that about 4
| dftch?' .-.s
In unhurried phrases and a low
| voice Lieber told him the history Of
Fazenda Flores since Gerry's advent
and at the great part tn ditch had