The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1916-05-19
CHAPTER xxxIlt-continued.

IL
In those days when once more his
thoughts demanded to be seen in theil
relation to AliX, that steady voice
within him was his only comfort. Tht
away all that his hands had done, bu1
the things that Fazcnda Flores hat
done for him could not be swept away
by any material force. They stood and
feared nothing-except Alix.
Wherever his mind turned, it came
passe. Alix assumed more and more
the portentous attributes of one unat
tached, sitting in judgment over his
acts. His memory of her frailty, OF
her flowerlike detachment from the
bones-the skeleton-of life, her arti
ficiality. made her seem ludicrously in
congruous in the role Of judge. He
could not picture her, much less esti
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
be lead himself bodily to the fmpasse
at all?
He was shn fighting this point when
he reached Barbados but there an incl
dent befell which brought new light
to his mind and then a 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 If by common impulse
The Barbadian glanced at Gerry and
ierked 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
7 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
world
Gerry smiled and fell naturally in
step with the Barbadian as he moved
slowly on.
Yes" said the old man. Its 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-Iost
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
Have you lost anyone?" asked
Gerry.
now said the Barbadian with a
smile "And your
Nor l." said Gerry. laughing I'm
out to stretch my legs
You can't do that here" replied the
old man You don't know our sun.
Come with me-" He hailed ram
shackIe victoria.
Gerry hesitated. "You must have a
home you want to go to and friends
to see. Don't worry about me. TIL
be careful about the sun
Boy" said the Barbadian. i've got
a home and I'm going to see it, but
there's no reason why you shouldn't t
come along AS for friends-the ones
left here won't get up to meet anyone
till the last trump sounds. Come along.
You are the only company and I'm the
only host in our party
They climbed into the rickety cab
and the Barbadian gave directions to
the driver. The driver answered in the
soft cultural of the West Indian black.
Slowly they crawled through the
crooked streets of the town. Gerry
leaned back and gazed at the freak
ish buildings. They We're all Of frame
work. Some swelled at the top, and
Gerry wondered why they did not
topple over; some swelled at the bot
tom and he wondered why these did
not cave in.
The Barbadian watched his face.
Funny town. en-"
Gerry nodded.
Presently the found themselves Oh
the weighted carriage pushed the old
horses along at ali unwouted pace.
Little hOuses-hundreds of them-ihat
looked like big hencoops lined the road
Suddenly the carriage came to Il halt.
one of the little houses was trying to
straddle the road. From around it
came screams and cries. 'NOw, then,
yo' Gladys. when ah say heft. yo'
heft.
The driver poured out an angry tor
rent of words that tried their best to
he harsh and failed. From around the
pbstructing house came an old darky
When his eyes fell on the Barbadian
he rushed forward. 'Lor Misteh Nal
COIN, when did yo' get back?'
Just now, Charles said the Barba-
dian What's the matter here?"
The darky's eyes rolled "Mattah,
NIisteh Malcolm? Why, that ole Gun
mel Stewart he's jes' so natcherly par
simonious that he requires ne to pay
reut fo' hayin' ma house on his Ian,
So says TO ole nanny, we'll jes'
Is.ove this here residence on to gentle
mons isn. and Misteh Malcolm men