Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-18
CHAPTER xxx1v.-continuod.

ALrx turned flashing eyes on him.
"A "well? Is that all you have to say7
Alan. It Is not we'll. I've come here be-
cause YOU must tell me-somebody must
fell me-now-all the things that that note
hides behind its wonderfully blank,
reazened little, hypocrltcal face"
Aian's eyes cleaned with amusement
AZ the rippling words. Alix was certainly
we'll Then suddenly she collapsed into
chair "Three years!' she gasped.
Her hands went UP to hold her head and
sbe began to cry in n way Alan had
neyer heard n woman cry before. The
gasping sobs racked his nerves. He felt
as though the sobs were tearing their
INV up from his own breast. He grlpped
,be arms of the chair in which he sat
His body telephoncd 20 his brain that he
was going to faint and at such astound-
tno news Ten Percent Wayne woke up
and took charge. "Alixl" the word
snopped out like the crack of whip.
nYou stop crying or I'll slap you, and
when slap slap hard"
Allx choked, swallowed and looked at
him outraged and unbelieving. Alans
sves were blazing. "You listen to me-"
no commanded, "llsten to every word I
say. You've gone through q lot in three
years, but just fasten your mind on to
This: so has Gerry. That note is color
less because Gerry made 1t Colorless. 1t
doesn't tell anything, because Gerry isn't
coward and because there are things
he must tell you face to face to get your
answer clear in his own mind. I'm maxi
ing you curious with every word. All
right, be curious. But you can be sure
Of one thing; IL Gerry had wanted me
10 tell you his story he'd have asked me
70, but no didn't. lie didn't even ask
me not to.
HE was standing In deep waters but
he had his head and shoulders out. He
wasn't asking for my, or anybody else's
hand TO help him up the bank. He didn't
ask me not to meddle because he knew 1
was man enough to see where he stood
without words. He trusted me-" Alan's
voice trailed off weakly He closed his
eyes.
"But, Alan" said Aix. "I must know
something Is he we'll? Is he"
Alan held up his hand. Just one thing
and then I'm going to sleep. I never
thought the old Rock would ever loom so
big"
Alix watched him doze off She felt
strangely comforted by the crumb he had
tossed her. She went back in her mind
10 a dinner of long agowhen she had de-
Tended Gerry's placid weight against Alan.
She sat on for half an hour busy with
varying thoughts. She looked curiousy
around Alans sitting room. How strange
that she should be here and yet how
natural. How safe she felt. She Won
dered II It was all because Of the defenses
she had raised up in herself or whether
any woman would feel safe with the new
and weakened Alan. She slipped out
without waking him and sent cable to
Pernambuco. BY night she had an answer.
Gerry had not yet sailed!
mn cga1 She wont nIlt On1V for
exercise. Her mind was busy with Won
derlng. The Judge called regularly. He
had put off going to Red Hill. He wanted
Alix to feel that a friend was at Ehand
and, besides, he had Alan on his hands
Alan was worrying him In nov" way
Something had gone out Of him. Some-
times he seemed to the Judge mere shen
"a blown egg, robbed of the seed of life
The Judge talked Of him often to Alix
but she could not fasten her mind on Alan.
Take him to the HILL" was her listless
advice