Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-08-19

biting her thumb.
Her attention was distracted by the
setter puppy who came clumsily gam
boiling toward her. "Hello, old Bumpy-
doOdles" she said with rich affec-
ton, kissing the dogs silky head, and
burying both hands In his feathered
collar. "Hello, old Buck!"
Alexandra, for heavens sake stop
handling that brute!' said Peter
Joyce disgustedly, coming up the path.
81 dare say you've not had your break
fast, either. Go wash your hands
Morning, DOctorv'
Father and daughter turned to smile
upon him, tall, lean man, with q
young face and finely groomed head,
and with touches of premature silver
at his temples.
He was a bachelor, just entering
his thirties, fastidious, critical, ex-
acting man by reputation, but showing
his best side to the Stricklands. They
had q vague idea that he was rich, ac-
cording to their modest standard, but
he apparently had no extravagant
tastes, and lived as quietly, or more
quietly, than they did. He liked soil
tude, books, music, dogs, and his fire.
side. The old Doctors one social en-
joyment was i'm visiting Peter, and
the younger man went to no other
place so steadily as he came to the
old house under the redwoods.
Morning, Peter!" said Doctor
Strickland now, smiling at him.
Have you had yOursT'
"My house," said Mr.. Joyce, fastid
iously, sis well-managed place. Say"
he added, pursuing his lips to whistle,
as he looked at the rose tree, "did
Tuesdays wind do that?"
Tuesdays wind and Dad" Alix
answered. "Will it go back, Peter?"
IL don't known" he mused
walking slowly about the wreck. IF
we had a lever down here, and some
fellow on the roof with a rope, may
be-"
"Mr. Lloyd is coming overt" Alix
announced. Peter nodded absently,
but the mention Of Martin Lloyd re-
minded him that they had all dined
at his house on the very evening when
the mysterious gale had commenced
and with interest he asked:
Cherry catch cold coming home
Tuesday nightT
mo; she squeezed in between Dad
and me, and was as warm as toast !"
Alix answered casually. How'd you
like Mr.. LlOyd?" she added.
Mice fellow!' Peter answered.
Hes awfully NICE" Alix agreed.
"Who is he?" Peter asked curiously.
"Where are his people and all that"
'HIis people live in Portland" the
girl answered. Hes a mining en-
gineer, and he's waiting now to be
called to Ell Ndo; he's to be at q mine
there. He's lots of fun-when you
know him, reallyl"
Talking of the new Prince Charm
ing, of course" Anne said, joining
them, and linking an arm in her I'M
cle's and in Alix's arm. "Don't bring
that puppy in, Alix, please! Break
fast, Uncle Lee. Come and have an
other cup of coffee, Peter!'
iiINC ell! ItleI
echoed thoughtfully, as they all
turned toward q delicious drift Of the
Odor Of bacon and coffee, and crossed
the porch to the dining room. 81 was
going down for the mail, but now I'll
have to stay and see this rose matter
through Thanks, Anne, but I'll
watch you. Where's Cherry?" he
added, glancing about.
Cherry answered the question her.
self by trailing in in a japanese wrap
per, and beginning to drink her coffee
with bare, slender arms resting on the
table. Nobody protested, the adOred
youngest was usually given her way.
81 heard you all laughing, under
the window and it-woke-me-up!"
Cherry said dreamily.
ut seems to me-" Anne, who had
been cycling her uneasily, said lightly,
that some one / know is getting pref
ty old to come downstairs in that rig
when strangers are here!"
at seems to me this is just as de-
cent as lots of things-bathing suits,
for instancew Cherry returned in
stantly, gathering the robe about her,
and giving Anne resentful glance
over her blue cup.
81 have rope somewhere" the
doctor eliminated "Where did I put
that long rope-what did l have 1t
for, in the first place"
"You had 1t to guy the apple tree"
AliX reminded him. 1.-THE tree that
died after all"
"Ah, yes" said her father, his at
tentive face Frightening. "Ah, yes
Now where is that roper But even
as AliX observed that she had seen 1t
somewhere, and advanced a tentative
guess as to the cellar, his eyes fell
upon Cherry, and went from Cherry's
absorbed face-fOr she was dreaming
over her breakfast-to Peter, and he
wondered If Peter had kissed her.
"Come on, let's get at it!' Allx ex-
claimed with relish. "Come on,
Sweetums," she added, to the dog.
She caught his forepaws, and he
whipped his beautiful tail between
his legs, and looked about with agOn-
lied eyes while she dragged him
through a clumsy dance. Hes the