Middletown transcript., 1916-03-18

. 4a =
pressed against the pane. He watched
Alix stop, turn and climb the steps
OF the car and then he wheeled and
hurried from the station.
Where could he go? Not to his club
and Alan's. His face would betray
the scandal with which the club would
be buzzing tomorrow. Not to his big
comfortable house 1t would be too
gloomy. Even in disaccord, Alix had
impaired to its somber oak and deep
shadows the glow of buOyant life.
When she was there one felt as though
there were flowers in the house. Gerry
was seized with great desire to hide
from his world, his mother, himself.
He pictured the Scare-heads in the pa
perS. That the name of Lansing should
be found in that galley! 1t was too
much. He could not face it.
He bought a morning paper full of
shipping news and, getting into a taxi,
gave the address of his bank. On the
way he studied the sailings' column.
He found what he wanted. The Gun
ter due to sail that afternoon for Bra
zil. Pernambuco the first stop.
At the bank Gerry drew out the
balance of his current account 1t
amounted to something over two thou
sand dollars. He took most of it in
Bank Of England notes. Then he start
ed home to pack but before he reached
the house a vision Of the servants,
1urried after helping their mistress
off, cOmmiserating him to each other,
pitying him to his face perhaps, or in
the case Of the old butler, suppressing
a great emotion, was too much for
him. He drove instead to a big de-
partment store and in an hour had
bought 4 complete outfit. He lunched
at one Of the quiet restaurants that
divide down town from up. The peO
pie about him were voluble in French
and Spanish. Already he felt as if
his exile had begun.
The Gunter was to sail at three from
Brooklyn. Gerry crossed by the ferry.
He did not get out of his cab. Over
his baggage, piled outside and in, he
caught a glimpse of the suspension
bridge. Years and years ago his father
had led him across that bridge when
it was the eighth wonder of the world.
Gerry gave a great sigh at the mem
Ory. He had not invaded Brooklyn
since. AS the cab threaded the in
terminable and reeking length of Fur
man street he looked out and felt him
self upon an alien shore
He had avoided buying a ticket.
AS the Gunter warped out, the purser
came to him. II understand you have
no ticket"
''NO," said Gerry, drawing 4 roll Of
bills. How much is the passage to
PenambucO"
The purser fdgeted This is irreg-
ular, sir"
''Is it?" said Gerry, indifferently.
81 have no ticket FORMS" said the
purser, weakening.
Il don't want a ticket" said Gerry.
81 want good room and three square
uedlS Il udy
Long, quiet days on a quiet sea are
a master sedative to a troubled mind.
Gerry had a great deal to think
through. He sat by the hour with
hands loosely clasped, his eyes far out
on the ocean, tracing the course of his
married life and measuring the
grounds for Alix' arraignment Gerry
was just and generous to others faults
but not to his own. He had forgotten
the sting of Alix' words and, to his
growing amazement, saw in himself
their justification. A time-server ne
certainly had been. But he reviewed
the lives of many other men in his
own leisurely class and decided that
he was not without company. After