Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-21

WIN tAClItnenI ana tlTblU,
only anxious to have the great hands or
the clock drop more speedily from
minute 10 minute, and so round out the
terrible hour that joined the old life to
tne new She was hurrying blindly to-
ward the docks OF the Los Angeles Lire
apsorped IN her one whirling thought,
when somebody touched her arm, and
2 voice, terrifyingly unexpected and yet
iiaitn,iliar, addressed her, and hand was
laid on her arm.
In utter confusion she looked IN. 1t
was Martin who stopped her.
For Few dreadful seconds a sort OF
vertigo seized Cherry and she was un-
aDle to collect her thoughts or to speak
sven ever the most casual words OF greeting.
Sne mad been so full of her extraordi-
mary errand that she was bewildered and
SICK at its Interruption, her heart thun-
Sered, her throat was choked, and her
Knees shook beneath her. Where was
she--what was known-how much had
she betrayed--her thoughts jumbled to-
tioning.
Gasping, trying to smile, she looked
up az him, while the ferry place whirled
ABOUT her, and pulses drummed In her
ears. She had automatically given him
her hSnd now he kissed her.
the third time.
II came into town to STOP" she fall
You what?" She had not really been
ntelligible, and she felt It, with a pang
OF fright. He must not suspect--the
steamer was there, only short block
away; Peter might pass them a chance
pect--
I'm shopping :" she said distinctly,
With with dry lips And she managed to
We'll" Martin said, smiling in turn,
surprised to see me?'
"Oh, Martin--n said ber Aut-
tered voice. Even in the utter panic Of
heart and soul she knew that for eafety's
sake she must find his vanity.
I'm going to tell you something that
with the Red Creek people,
Martin" Cherry enunolated, almost
voicelessly. ...
You remember wrote you that they
fired Mason, and that was doing his
work and mine. too?"
II remember ~ Cherry, seized by
deadly nausea and chill, looked from a.
flower vender to a newsboy, looked at
the cars. the people-she must not faint
She must not faint.
"well--but where are you going?"
Homer"
II was going to the dentist minute,
but It's not important" They had
turned and were walking across to the
ferry. She knew that there was no way
In which she might escape him. What
did you say?" she said.
Il asked you when the next boat left
for Mill Valley"
I'VE can-go--fnd out" Cherry's
thoughts were spinning. She must warn
Peter somehow. It was twenty minutes
of II by the ferry clock. Twenty min
utes of II. In twenty minutes the boat
would sail. She thought desperately OF
the women's waiting room upstairs; she
might plead the necessity OF telephoning
from 1t. But 1t had one door, and Mar
tin would wait at that door. The glow
OF meeting had already faded from his
face, but he was lettering by her side.
quite as a matter of course.
Suddenly she realized that her only
hope OF warning Peter was to send a
messenger. But IL Martin should chance
| to connect her neighborhood with the
| boat when he met her. and her sending
Of a message to Peter here
| 81 think there's boat at IL some
| thing" she said, collectedly. suppose
| you go and find out?"
She glanced toward the entrance OF
| the Sausalito waiting-room, hundred
| her heart If he turned his back on
her
What are you going to do?" he asked
| somewhat surprised.
| r ought to telephone Alix" Her
despair lent her wit. If he went to the
| ticket office, and she into. telephone
booth, she might escape him yet! While
| he dawdled here, minutes were flying.
and Peter was watching every car and
Ss Ssry sant 0se s with ths Soa asGn
out the exact time and get tickets" she
said. "Pll telephone AliX."
| 'Tickets?" he echoed. with all Mar.
tins old, maddening slowness. Haven't
you got return ticket?'
II have mileage!" she blundered.
Oh. then III use your mileage - =
nodding toward row Hf booths, no
hurry; we've got piles Of time
| She remembered that he liked a mas
culine assumption of easiness where all
trains, tickets, railroad connections and
| transit business OF any sort were con-
cerned. He liked to loiter elaborately
while other people were running, liked
that they had all the time in the world,
| She tried to call number, left the
booth, paiG a staring girl, and rejoned
him.
BUSY! - she reported.
"I was just thinking" Martin said
that we might stay In town and go
to the Orpheum; how about II? Do we
have to have Peter and Alix?'
Cherry flushed, angered again. in the
fright and stir. Her voice had its old
bored note.
"Well, Martin. I've been their guest
for two months!'
I'D just as soon have them" Martin
conceded, indifferently.
But the diverted thought had helped
Cherry, irritation had nerved her. and
the reminder of Martins old, try
ing stupidities had lessened her fear of
him
"Pve got to send a telegram-foT
| AliX," she said
what about?" he asked, less curious
than ill:bred,
ing" Cherry answered, calmly. only
| don't mention It to AliX, because
promised it would go earlier!' she
| added.
I saw the office back here" he told old
her. They went to 1t together, and he
was within i've feet of her while she
| scribbled her note.
Martin met me. Nothing wrong
We are returning to Mil Valley, G, L.
| She glanced at her husband; ne was
standing in the doorway Of the little
office. smoking, Quickly she addressed
the envelope. Don't read that name
out loud" she said, softly but very
slowly and distinctly; to the girl at the the
note. Keep the change. and for God s
sake get that to the Harvard. sailing
from Dock 67, before 1l"' she said.
The GIRL; who had been pSne'i,tnEL ,nHL ID q
up In surprise; but rose immediately, to
the occasion. Cherrys beauty, her
agonized eyes and voice, were enough
to awaken her sense OF the dramatic
A sharp rap of the clerks pencil sum
moned boy.
George, there's a dollar in that for
you II you deliver 1t before IL 10 me
Harvard !" said she. The boy selzed H.
stuck It in his hat. and fed, =,
"And now for the boat Cherry SAD
rejoinlng Martin, and speaking IN a.
most her natural voice, They went Dack
TO the Sausalito ferry entrance @saia'i si
and this time telephoned AK III Ieal
earnest, and presently found themselves
on the upper deck of the boat oouho