The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-04-01

must tell me-nOW-all the things that
] that note hides behind its wonderfully
blank, weakened, little, hypocritical
face"
Alan's eyes cleaned with amuse-
ment at the ripping words. Alix was
certainly we'll. Then suddenly she COL
lapsed in a chair. "Three yearsw 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 IN and
took charge. "Alixw the word snapped
out like the crack of whip. you
stop crying or I'll slap you. and when
I slap l slap hard"
AK choked, swallowed and looked
at him, outraged and unbelieving.
Alan's eyes were blazing. You listen
to me-" he commanded, listen to every
word 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. I'm making
you curious with every word. All right,
be curious. But you can be sure of
one thing; If 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 helm
him up the bank. He didn't ask me
not to NEEDLE because he knew l was
man enough to see where he stood
without words. He trusted me-" AL
ans voice trailed off weakly. He
closed his eyes.
"But, Alan" said Alix, Il must know
something. Is he well? Is he"
Alan held up his hand. Just one
thing and then I'm going to sleep. ]
never thought the old Rock would eve,
loom so big"
Alix watched him doze off. She fell
strangely comforted by the crumh h,
had tossed her. She went back in ne,
mind to dinner Of long ago, whe,
she had defended Gerry's placid
weight against Alan. She sat on for
half an hour, busy with vdrying
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 If it was all because of the de-
lenses she had raised up in herself or
whether any woman would feel safe
with the new and weakened Alan. She
slipped out without waking him and
sent cable to Pernambuco. 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-
larly He had put off 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 Alix
but she could not fasten her mind OIL
Alan. ''Take him to the HILL" was
her listless advice.
1--WE tried" said the Judge, land he
says he's not ready--not strong enough
/ told him that's what he ought to 90
for-tO get strong-and he said fun
ny thing. There's kind of strength,
we must generate or borrow. l didn't
borrow. SO now I'm generating. 1t
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 he
just goes to sleep. It's just as effec.
tive and almost as original"
One afternoon the judge came In
with smile on his face. "Alan Is bet
ter he announced.
"1sn't he better every day?' asked
Alix.
''Not like this" said the Judge. "You
know Fleureur? or course you don't
You wouldn't. Can't imagine how he
ever got into the club, but he did Well,
It's long time since Mr.. Fleureur has
been asked to cut in Mt bridge at the
club or anywhere else. Yesterday he
came in and saw Alan for the first
time since his return. Halo, Wayne.
he said, back again and doing the
heavy swell as ever. only not quite 81
heavy inside the clothes now, ebY Alan
is getting touchy over being weak.
ling. That's good sign, too, by the
way. lie looked sideways out of his
sleepy eyes at Flcureur and you bet
everybody listened" The Judge paused
at thus forgetting himself; then he
went on: "Alan said, DO clothes matter
such lot? Somehow it seems to me
It doesn't make any difference how
much a man wakes his mustache as
long as he doesn't wax his finger
nails.'"
Alix' face lit up. ooh, that is Alan
The Judges eyes twinkled. EYES," he
said, land then Alan went of to sleep
like shot and Fleureur remembered