The Glenwood post., 1916-07-08

.Well? Is that all you have to ssy7
Alan. 1t is not well, I've come here
because you must tell me-somebody
must tell me-nOw-all the things that
that note hides behind its wonderfully
blank. weazened, little, hypocritical
face"
Alan's eyes cleaned with amuse-
ment at the ripping words. Alix was
certainly well. Then suddenly she COL
lapsed in. chair. "Three years. she
gasped. Her hands went up to hold
her head and she began to cry in
way Alan had never heard woman
cry before. The gasping sobs racked
his nerves. He felt as though the sobs
were tearing their way up from his
own breast. He gripped the arms of
the chair in which he sat. His body
telephoned to his brain that he was
going to faint and at such astounding
news Ten Percent Wayne woke up and
took charge. "Alix!" the word snapped
out like the crack of whip. "You
stop crying or I'll slap you, and when
slap slap hard"
Alix choked. swallowed and looked
at him, outraged and unbelieving.
Alan's eyes were blazing. You listen
to me-" he commanded, "listen to every
word l say. You've gone through lot
in three years, but just fasten your
mind on to this: SO has Gerry. That
note is colorless because Gerry made
it colorless. 1t doesn't tell anything,
because Gerry isn't coward and be-
cause there are things he must tell
you face to face to get your answer
clear in his own mind. Pm making
you curious with every word. All right
be curious. But you can be sure of
one thing; II Gerry had wanted me
to tell you his story he'd have asked
me to, but he didn't. He 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-" Al
ans voice trailed OF weakly. He
closed his eyes.
But, Alan," said Alix, 81 must know
something. Is he well? 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"
Ali1 watched him doze of. She felt
strangely comforted by the crumb he
had tossed her. She went back in her
mind to dinner of long ago when
she had defended Gerry's placid
weight against Alan. She sat on for
half an hour, busy with varying
thoughts. She looked curiously around
Alan's 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 de-
lenses She had raised up in herself or
h whether any woman would feel safe
with the new and weakened Alan. She
slipped out without waking him and
sent cable to Perna mbuco. By night
she had an answer. Gerry had not yet
sailed!
Days passed. She went out only for
exercise. Her mind was busy with
wondering. The judge called regu-
larry He had put on going to Red
Hill. He wanted Alix to feel that a
friend was at hand and, besides, he
had Alan on his hands,. Alan was
worrying him in new way. Some
thing had gone out of him. Sometimes
he seemed to the judge mere she'll
blown egg, robbed of the seed Of life.
The judge talked Of him often to Altx,
but she could not fasten her mind on
Alan. "Take him to the HILL" was
her listless advice.
"I've tried" said the judge, 'tand he
says he's not ready-not strong enough
Fl told him that's what he ought to 90
for-to get strong-and he said fun
ny thing. There's a kind Of strength
we must generate or borrow. didn't
borrow, SO now I'm generating. II
takes time And then he dropped OF
to sleep. Before. he used to run you
through with his tongue when he
wanted to stop conversation. Now ht
just goes to sleep. It's just rs effec
tive and almost us original"
One afternoon the Judge came ir
with smile on his face. "Alan is bet
ter he announced.
isn't he better every day" asked
Alix.
mot like this" said the Judge. "Yol
know Fleureur? OF course you don't
You wouldn't. Can't imagine how h'
ever got Into the club, but he did. Well
It's long time since Mr.. Fleureur hal
been asked to cut in at bridge at th'
club or anywhere else. Yesterday h
came in and saw Alan for the frs
time since his return. Halo, Wayne
he said, back again and doing tn
heavy swell as ever. only not quite 81
heavy inside the clothes now, eh?' Alal
is getting touchy over being weak
ling. That's good sign, too, by tn
way. He looked sideways out Of hi