The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-10-20
CHAPTER XVI.

The evening dragged. Alix had sug
gested bridge, but Martin did not play
bridge. So she went to the piano, and
began to ramble through various
songs.
Cherry and Peter, left at the table,
did not speak to each other; Peter
leaned back In his chair, with a ciga-
rette; Cherry dreamily pushed to and
fro the little anagram wooden block
letters.
But presently her heart gave a great
plunge, and although she did not alter
her different attitude. or raise her
eyes, her white hand moved with d.
rected impulse. and Peters casual
glance fell upon the word Alone
When he laid his finished cigarette
in the tray, it was to finger the let
tiers himself. in turn, and Cherry real
lied with a great thrill of relief that
he was answering her. Carelessly, and
obliterating one word before he began
another, he formed the question my
office tomorrow"
Martin always with me- Cherry
spelled back. She did not glance at
Peter, but at Martin, who was watch
ing the fire, and at Alix, whose back
was toward the room.
"Come on. have another game"
Peter asked, generally, while he
spelled quickly: "WiIl arrange sail
ing first possible day.
Alix, humming with her song said:
"Wait a few m%inutesI" and Martin
glanced up to say, mo, I'm no good at
that thing! !"
Then Cherry and Peter were unob-
served again, and she spelled Mart
goes Monday. Plans to take me-"
Peter had reached for a magazine;
he whirled through the pages, and
yawned. Then he began to play with
the anagrams again.
Can you get away without hlmT
he spelled.
'How?' Cherry instantly asked.
And as Peters hands went on build
ing "a little bridge Of wooden letters,
she went on: "Alix to train, Martin
with me to city. impossible"
Give him the slip Peter spelled.
And after a pause he added. life or
DEATH
"Diflicult to evade," Cherry spelled,
wiping the words away one by one
Must walt" Peter began. Alix,
ending her song on a crash of chords,
came to the table, i~nterrupting him.
Cherry was now lazily reading a maya
zine; Peter had built a little pen of
tiny blocks.
FIJI go you !" Alix said, with spirit.
But the game was rather a languid
one, nevertheless, and when it was
over they gathered yawning about the
mantel, ready to dispense for the
night.
And tomorrow night we dine In
town and go. to the ~Orpheum?' Alix
asked, for the plan had been suggest
ed at dinner-time.
"Ill blow you girls to any show you
like" Martin offered.
Remarking that he was tired, Peter
to his room. Cherry, with only
general goodnight, also disappeared.
10 find Alix arranging beds and pill
Iows on their sleeping porch.
"Oh, Alix-I'm so worried-I'm so
with worryi" Cherry whispered.
He won't listen to me. He won't
near of a divorce! I"
81 know I" Alix said, distressedly.
But what shall | dol can't go
With hint" Cherry protested.
Alix was silent.
what shall | do?" Cherry pleaded
again.
"Why, / don't see what else you can
10. but go with him I" Alix said, In a
roubled voice You are his wife.
For better or worse, for richer or
,oorer, till death"
1t was said so kindly, with Alix's
Iimple and embarrassed fashion of
living advice, that poor Cherry could
lot resent 1t. She could only bow her
lead desolately upon her knees, as
he sat, ch~ild-fashion. in her bed, and
ry.
"A nice mess I've made of my life!"
sobbed. I've made a nice mess
t It'll / wish-oh. my God, how !
fish l was desdr"
my own life has been so darned
ak unused, In q cautious un-
ertone, sitting, fully dressed, on the
de Of her own bed, and studying her s
with plying eyes. @Tve often
'ondered If could buck up and get t
with 1t IL some of thai sort Of