Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-17

done so. The note that he was carry
ing for Gerry was liEht-only Ahalf sheet
probably. The liGhtness of 1t told Alan
that the things Gerry had to say to his
wife could not be put on paper Alan
had almost cabled., Now he was glad
he had not done so. "Alix." he said to
himself isn't waiting she's trusting. A
cable would have heightened waiting by
a month"
Then. without volltion, his mind
wandered from Alix and raced ahead to
the goal of his journey. What was the
goal of his journey? Whittier was he
bound?
He reached for Clem's letter and held II
In folded hands. He had no need to read
1t again. The words were nothing; the
picture was all. It stretched before his
mind, a living canvas.
Once when Alan was wandering with
an Englishman in the hills above Gra-
NADIA, faint odor had brought them 10
a sudden halt. II was the Englishman
who made the surprising discovery first
"Blackberries. by Jove"' he had eX.
claimed. Good old blackberries.' And
then they two had stood together, yet
half a world apart, and stared long at the
berry-laden bush. What vision of tan
gled, high-walled garden burst upon the
Englishman Alan never knew, but "a
himself had come n memory or East
Mountain in autumn, so clear, SO poiB-
nant, that 1t had brought his throboing
heart into his throat.
n was so now with CIem's letter. The
words were but hurried daub. but they
touched his eyes with magic wand
The daub became a scene, a picture, a
world-his world.
Red Hill was spread out before him. a
texture where the threads and colors oi
life were blended into carpet sort nut
enduring. Men walked and little children
played on It, Alan closed his eyes and
sighed What had he been doing with
life? Making sacking? Sacking was com
mercial. 1t paid in cash. 1t was the ma
tional industry. But what could one DO
with sacking on Red Hill?
Then, almost suddenly, the full spirit
of CIem's letter seized him. One did not
its children Red Hin was the source OF
all gifts-the source of life. On that
thought he slept. a.,
When he was back once more In his
rooms. before Swithson had had time 10
open a bag, Alan redirected Gerry's note
to Alix to Red Hill and sent swlthson
ont 10 most 1t. He did not try to temper
the shock of the note with covering
letter. He was too weak and tired. BE-
side. he felt that the note carried It's own
antidote to joy.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
T1HE next morning a message came by
hand to Alan's rooms. Alix had come
to town and wished to see him at once
Would he please come around? He re-
piled that he was too i'll. Half an hour
later Swithson answered a ring at the
door and Alix slipped quickly past him
into Alans sitting room. There was
flush of anger in her cheeks, but Alan
was pleased to see no trace OF tears In
her eyes. A woman's crying always
touched him on the raw and seldom
awakened his pity.
At sight OF him AliX forgot her con-
Germ for herself. why, Alan" she
cried, what is the matter?"
Alan laughed. There was pleasant
note in his laugh she had never heard be-
fore I'm all right. Alix. Don't make
any mistake. I'm a resurrection In the
bud. Doing fine, | don't have to ask
how you are. You're we'll. You're look
ing Just as well as a little slip like you
can ever look. Sit down. do
AIix's thought went back to herself and
Immediately the name burned again In
her cheeks. She pulled Gerry's crumpled
note from her glove and tossed 1t open
on the table before Alan. He read the
two or three lines in which Gerry told
her he would arrive shortly. The brief
note was intentionally colorless. "Well?'
he asked.
CONTINUED TOMORROW.