The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-04-07
CHAPTER vlI--contlnusd.

CHAPTER vIi--contInued.
THAT'S right. said Alix as she fol-
and then shook hands with her escort.
He looked az the dollar bin her grasp
left behind.
THAT wasn't called for, Miss. II
was enough for me to have saved ye
from fall
You didn't save me-" said AiIx with
bewildeflng smile. Il saved my
self"
she left him scratching his head
over this fresh enigma.
ak was tired and hungry when
abe got back home but excitement kept
her up. She felt that she stood on the
threshold Of new effort and new life.
After all, she thought, II was she that
had made her dear old Gerry into
time.server. She could have made him
Into anything else II she had tried
She longed 20 tell him so. Perhaps he
would catch her and crush her in his
arms as Alan had done. She laughed
at herself for wanting him to. She
IhhE TOT Ailt butltFs w nclNh lVul
master, John?"
Il don't know ma'am. Mr.. Gerry
hasn't come back since ne went out
this morning" To Jcha. Mr. Lansing
was person who had been dead for
some time. His present oyerloris were
Mr.. and Mrs, Gerry and Mrs. Lansing
when she was In town.
40. 4l. ~. al ID
there tell him l want to see him."
said Aiix aud turned TO her welcome
tea. The sandwiches seemed unusual
fiy small to her ravenous appetite.
Gerry was not at tho club Alix
dressed resplendently for dinner.
Never had she dressed for any other
man with the care that she dressed
for Gerry that night. But Gerry did
not come. At halt.past nine Alix or
dered the table cleared "I'll not dine
tonight she said TO John when
your master comes. show him In here"
She sat ON In the library listening
Cor Gerry's step In the hall.
From time to time John came into
Trhe room 10 replenish the fire, on one
OF these occasions Alix told him he
might go to bed but an hour later he
returned and stood In the door ak
looked very small. curled up in a great
Ieathern chair by the fire.
Its after one O'clock ma'am." said
John. Mr. Gerry won't be coming
in tonight" AK made no answer.
John held his ground. ITS time for
you TO go TO bed, ma'am. Shall
call the maIdT
Aiix was exhausted but IL was long
before she fell asleep. She cried soft
~. she wanted to be eomforted. She
had dressed so beautifully had
been SO beautiful--and Gerry had not
come home. AS she cried, her disap-
pointment grew into a great trouble.
She awoke early from a feverish
sleep. Immediately sense of weight
assailed her. She rang and learned
that Gerry had not yet come home.
Then bis words OF yesterday suddenly
came TO her. "If I dropped out OF the
world today" AK 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 t. Ii was almost noon in the
cloudy Sunday morning when she
reused herself from apathy. she
sprang from the bed. She summoned
Judge Healey with a note and Mrs.
Lansing with telegram. The tele-
gram was carefully worded, 'Please
come and stay for a while. Gerry is
away
The Judge found Alix radlating the
freshness OF a beautiful woman care
full OF her person. but II was the fresh
ness OF pale flower Allx 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
Ter hand. "You would make SPLEEN
cid witness. my DEAR he said. Vow,
what you want Is for me to find Gerry
and bring him back. isn't it, Are you
sure Gerry knew nothing Of your--er
excursion TO the stationY
Alix shook her head. From the
time be left nay room and the house
be has not been back"
HAS he been to the cfubT
AK coIcred family. II see" said