The Press., 1921-09-29
Jerry Cured of the
 Wanderlust
By R. RAY BAKER

1.-The wanderlust is on me again, ? said Jerry Fourwinds, sitting before Fred Calder's grate-fire. Il can feel 1t tugging, and the tug Is stronger every succeeding day. Don't you ever feel it-yOu who used to travel up and down and across this old world with mel"
 Fred shook his head, and smiled as he lighted his pipe.
 ''NO more" he sighed, but the sigh was expressive of contentment. "Not since Hazel came into my life have l felt the call. You should be married, too, and then you could settle down and defy the fates that seek to send you to far places. liked the old life, the adventures we went through to- gether. 1 remember our tilt with polar bears and recall our tiger hunt in the jungles, and our wrestle with hun ger In the Rocky mountains, and they have become bright spots in my mem- ory, because of the thrills and com radeship connected with them, but love Is a greater adventure than any or all of them. I'm satisfied and I thought you were, too, now that that very desir- able young lady has a place in your scheme of existence. I'll be frank and say that it wouldn't be a square deal to go and leave her now, when she has come to care for you. Besides, a rolling stone, you know, doesn't be- come plastered with greenbacks."
 The fiickering light of the flame in l hn Jerry'S face into bold relief. It was a young face, with some lines, but other wise no evidences of cares. It was good face, too, and handsome, with eyes that burned with life.
 I'm sOrry," he said after a pause, while he puffed on a calabash, "but l can't give up. think a lot of Carrie, but I can't resist the call of the long trails. Pm rightly named. The four winds have woven a spell about me that I can't shake off. I've kept this job as an auto salesman for two years, and that's the record for me. I've saved up some cash-about four hundred dOllars-and I'm going to Brazil. I may not gather the green backs, but I'll have adventure, which my system requires. I thought once I'd marry Carrie-if she'd have me but it's no use. l told her last night when I felt her that was going away for a week, and foOlishly I made an engagement with her for week from tonight. I'll have to break that en- gagement, that Is all. I have a favor to ask of you. Will you go to her the next day, after the engagement that l won't keep, and explain to her what q worthless fellow I amp"
 There was a serious look on Fred'e cOuntenance as the light from the fire turned its attention to him.
 "Pll do 1t if you insist" he said, "but it's the wrong way. I'm disappointed in you, confess, but I'm your friend, of course, just the same, and will try to make satisfactory explanations. You had better think 1t over, though, before you take the step."
 q leave tomorrow morning." Jerry answered. My mind is made up."
 And he did. An early train bound for the south took him out of Waver- l ly, his eyes shining with the excite ment of once more hitting the trail," and perhaps a little with regret over some one he left behind.
 ''NO girl is going to tie me down." Jerry muttered as he watched the outskirts of the city flash past. "Pm leaving just in time. She was getting pretty strong hold on me. Poor Fred! He's settled for good"
 Jerry settled himself in the smoker and tried to pass the time with maga- zines, but somehow he couldn't get in terested in the printed page as he used to when travelling. He was un- able to account for this disturbed con- dition of the mind, but finally de- cided 1t was the two years spent with his nose to the grindstOne, as he phrased it. He would overcome it in short time, he was confident. In the afternoon the car became crowded and Jerry shared his seat with young travelling man. They discussed business and reconstruction and bOlsheviki and other matters, and before long the talk turned to personal l matters. The travelling man seemed 1 inclined to be sentimental and finally admitted he was in joyful mood be- cause he was returning to his home in the West and never was going to leave it again.
 At last my firm has given me a city territory" he said, land now I can stay with my wife and kids. What do you think of this?"
 That's the wife and kids," he said ,,rnuJIT, ho 1yo,dIof
 "Fine!" said Jerry, with real ad- miratiOn. The travelling man lapsed into silence and appeared lost in re- hectiOn. So was Jerry.
 In the diner that evening Jerry sat across the aisle from young couple, who continually smiled at each other and patted each others hands in what was intended to be surreptitious man. ner, neglecting> their food shamefulIy.
 'HOneymOOners !" grunted the fat man across the table from Jerry. "Act crazy. don't they7"- "Oh. don't know" Jerry demurped, and was surprised at himself, because ordinarily he would have held the same opinion. = When darkness was settling the train stopped at a small town-One of those places which uses the station as public assembly hall. Young couples were Str0lling about the platform, arm in arm, chatting gayly and laughing. Jerry felt lonesome feeling creeping over him. Never before had he expe- rienced anything of the kind, and he could not explain 1t.
 Tt cant be I'm homesick," he growled, and turned from the window, drawing the blind
 Jerry had lower berth in the center of the sleeper, but he failed somehow to sleep well. Things didn't seem nat ural te this lover of adventure who was more at home on the trail than