Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-31
cHAPTER XGv.-Continued.

CHAPTER XIV.-Continued.
= IRIS j. V for second was puzzled.
wi THAT isn't Mrs. Lansing-it's Mrs.
Garry you're thinking of. Mrs. Lansing
q her mother-inlaw They live next
door"
1-be next morning, with Glen as cicer-
one, Collingeford went over to The FRS
N pay his respects to AliX Ihey found
her under the trees.
"Hov do yor do?" said Alix. THE
Honorable Percy. isn't it?"
'What "A memory you have for trihes,"
sald Collingeford, laughing. May l sit
DOWN.
,'po," said Alix She was perched in
the middle of n garden seat On each
side of her were piled various stuffs and
ali the paraphernala of the sewing circle
colllngeford sat down before her and
stared. Glen had gone off in search of
/ game more to her taste. AliX seemed to
him very small. He felt the change in
her before he could fix in what it lay
She seemed still and restful In spite of her
Aying fingers. Spiritually still. Her eyes
aiancing at him between stitches, were
amused and grave at the same time.
"Dolrs clothes?" said Collingeford, wav-
ing at a beribboned morsel.
"No," said Alix.
Coringeford star d a little longer and
then he broke out with. Look here. what
the young Mrs. Lansing-spice deviltry,
sclntillation and wit-blinding. over here.
Mrs Gerry-demure and industrious.
Don't tell me you have gone in for the
Quaker pose, but please tell me which Is
the poseuse; you now or the other one.'
Allx laughed. 'Tm just me now, minus
The deviltry and all that. Come, I'll show
you what I've done with it,"
They threaded the trees and came upon
mighty bower. half sun, half shade,
where in the midst of a nurse and Glenn
and many toys a baby was enthroned on
rug. There you are" said AlX.
"Theres my spice devltry, scintillation
and wit all done into one roly-poly."
well, I'm blowed," said Collingeford,
advancing cautiously on the young mon
arch. do you want me toto feel
him or say anything about his looks? I'll
have to think a minute If you do"
"Booby" said AliX, come away"
But Colingeford seemed fascinated. He
squatted on the rug and poked the mon
arch's ribs Nurse, mother and Clem
few to the rescue, but to their amazement
the monarch did not below. He appro-
priated Collingeford's finger II wonder
il he'd mind if | called him n young
fun,'" soliloquized the attacking giant.
Then he pulled the baby's leg. when he
grows up tell him I was the first man
to pull his leg. My word, he hasn't bone
In his body, not even a TOOTH
SILLY" said Clem, "of course not"
What are you staring at him that way
tor?" said Alix. "Can baby make you
think? A penny for them"
II was Just thinking" said Colinge-
ford gravely, "that baby is positively
the only thing I've never eaten"
Mortified silence greeted this re-
mark. The nurse was the first to recover.
She strobe forward. gathered up the baby
and marched away. AliX and Clem fixed
their eyes on Collngeford. He slowly
withered and drew back
Then the Judge and Mrs. Lansing came
out to them. Collingeford was intro
duced Mrs. Lansing turned to AliX.
Have you asked Mr.. CollinGeford to
stay to lunch? The Judge has asked
himself"
mo, mother" said Alix. 'Tm afraid
we couldn't give the Hon. Percy anything
new to eat. He says"
my dear Mrs Lansing" interrupted
Collngeford, its all a mistake. l posi-
lively loathe eating new things, no mat
ter how delicious and rosy and blue
eyed they look"
Are you speaking of cabbages?" in
CURED the Judge.
mo, babies" said Clem. "He wanted
10 eat the baby"
Mrs Lansing laughed. "I don't blame
/ S''N ofiihs VIC bAN'iA NHAANN' ~
eat him myself"
collingeford spent good deal of his
week at The Firs. Glenn went to see the
oaby daily as matter of course and he
went along, as he said TO himself, as
another matter of course. Glen talked to
me baby, Collingeford to AliX. He said to
her one day, "Fve read in books about
pabies doing this sort of thing to gad-
abouts-"
'Gad-abouts," interrupted Allx, 'is
Just, but cruel"
We'll, butterflies" compr, missed Col
ingeford. But 1 never believed it really
happened"
oh" said Alix, "It wasn't the baby.
NOT altogether. 10 see, Mr.. Collinge-
ford Gerry ! lnsing-I'm Mrs. Gerry
disappeared over year ago-befOre the
papy came, He thought | didn't love him,
might as well tell you all abo-t 1t. l
believe In telling things. Mystery is al
Ways more dangerous than truth; 1t gives
such lead to imagin ltion."
so she told him and CollinEeford
nsIened, interested. At the end he said
1o.hlng. AliN looked at his thoughtful
taes What do you think? Isn't there
enanee? Don't you think he's possibly
probably alive?"
fhe Judge was not there to hear the
meek appeal of faith for comfort. Col
hageford met Alix's eyes frankly, IF l
es,e you'" he said, II would probably
ssheVe as you do. I've met too many
esaa men in Piccadilly looking uncom-
ssl9hiy we'll ever to say that man is
eaa because he's disappeared, Then
Aere's the other side of 1t. Bodsky says
man Is never dead while there's any
n9ay left that loves him"
! me Judge told me about BOdsky. He's
ne man that said there had been lots OF
nlutaerers he'd like to take to his club.
~ must be worth while I'd like TO talk
don't suppose" said Collngeford
ssshuy' that Bodsky has talked TO a
"9pan since he killed his mistress"
tlA started and looked up from her
- Don't you think you had better
so,ns so,,s oack-and bring the talk back with
was Collingeford's turn to start. Il
your pardon" he said. You are
~ l was in another world. Only you
ssht get a wrong impression Every
- says II was an accident-eXcept BOD
- he has never said anything"
CHAPTER XIV.
AtAN WAYNE had been away for a
= year He had not returned from
e9nlfeal but had gone from there TO
IA South America and, later, 70