Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-05-11
CHAPTER xxxrll-cOntlnusd.


thoughts demanded to be seen in their
relation TO AK, that steady voice
within him was his only comfort. The
noOd at FaEenda Flores had swept
away all that his hands had done, but
the things that Fazenda Flores had
done for him could not be swept away
by any material force. They stood and
feared nothing-except AK.
Wherever his mind turned, II came
back to Alix and found in her an i'm
passe. Allx assumed more and more
the portentous attributes OF one unat-
tached, sitting in Judgment over his
acts. His memory of her frailty, of
her fiowerlike detachment from the
bones-the skeleton-of life, her arti-
flciality, made her seem ludicrously in
congruous in the role of judge. He
could not picture her, much less estl-
mate the sentence she would pass. His
thoughts led him daily up to that i'm
passe and left him. Then came the
doubt and the question-why should
he lead himself bodily to the impasse
at all?
He was still fighting this point when
he reached Barbados but there an Incl
dent befell which brought a new light
to his mind and then n new peace
to his soul.
He had gone ashore at Bridgetown
simply because his whole body. per-
fectly attuned by three years of long
hours of toll, was crying out for more
exercise than the narrow decks of the
freighter could afford.
When the little group of passengers
reached shore, with the exception Of
Gerry and an old returning Barbadian,
they all turned in the same direction
as II by a common impulse.
The Barbadlan glanced at Gerry and
jerked his head at the disappearing
group. "Men of the world in the big
sense" he said.
'What do you mean" asked Gerry.
"Son," said the old Barbadian, who
was very tanned and whose kindly
eyes blinked through thick glasses,
''when a chap tells you he's a man
of the world you ask him If he ever
had a drink at the Ice house. You
don't have to say in Bridgetown.' Ever
have a drink at the Ice house?' Just
like that; and If he says, No. you
know he meant he was a town rounder
when he said he was a man of the
world"
Gerry smiled and fell naturally in
step with the Barbadian as he moved
slowly on.
eyes," said the old man. "1t's a sure
test. The man that hasn't crooked his
elbow at the big, round deal table in
that old, ramshackle drink-house can't
say he's really Travelled. Long-lost
brothers and friends have met there.
and when men that roam the high seas
want news OF some pal that's disap-
peared down the highway of the world
they drop in at the old Ice house and
ask what road he took. It's halfway
house to all the seven seas"
"Haye you lost anyoneT asked
Gerry.
"No, I'm not thirsty for drink just
now," said the Barbadian with 1
smile. "And your"
"Nor l." said Gerry, laughing. 'In
out to stretch my legs"
"You can't do that here" replied thu
old man. You don't know our sun
Come with me-" He hailed a ram
shackle victoria.
Gerry hesitated "You must have
home you want to so to and friend
to see. Don't worry about me. II
be careful about the SUM-"
Z "Boy." said the Barbadian. 1--WE go
n home and I'm going to see 1t, bu
there's no reason why you shouldn'
come along. As for frlends-the one
I left here won't get up to meet anyon
Sill the last trump sounds. Come along
You are the only company and I'm til
only host in, our party"
They climbed into the rickety cal
and the Barbadlan gave directions t
the driver The driver answered in th
soft cultural of the West Indian black
Slowly they crawled through th
crooked streets of the town. Gerr
leaned back and gazed at the freak
ssh buildings. They were all of frame
work Some swelled at the top, an
Gerry wondered why they did nc
topple over; some swelled at the bot
tom and lac wondered why these dl
NOT cave In.
The Barbadian watched his fac
-'Funny town, eh2"
Gerry nodded.
Presently the found themselves o
a country road. 1t was so smooth thu
the weighted carriage pushed the oil
horses along at an unwonted pac,
Little houses-hundreds OF them--thS
looked like big hencoops lined the roat
Suddenly the carriage came to a hal
One Of the little houses was trying
straddle the road. From around
came screams and cries. Now. thel
20 Gladys, when nh say heft y
heft"
The driver poured out an angry to