The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-06-25
CHAPTER xvn

CHAPTER XVII
Tho sun was setting over the s>a
when Major and Joan came back
from Tcele. A riot OF rose pink
and gold painted the sky mridly. II
caught the white ran OF a ship far
out AZ sea and made II look like a
fairy bark.
The car stopped At the cottage
cato with little gratf!cd snort
and Joan Jumped out with a sigh OF
relief. She Ind fecn Terriers tall
figure in the little garden. and he
came striding down the path toward
her.
Have you Ind a rood rum Ills
voice was quite friendly. she looked
up at him with a gasp OF relief
then the words died on her iips--it
WAS a. II she looked into the face OF
strangcri
lie took the rug and heavy coat
from her arm. he walked bcside her
10 tho house. taMng ea.lty. as /.
she were a visitor 20 whom II was
his duty 10 be courteous
i y
Of those we used TO get over in
Canada Didnr you notice II, I,
must have been fine from the top
Of the cliff
He laid the rug and coat down on
the han chair: Joan put out n hand
To dctaln him As be would have left
her.
-Riehard- Tie turned
You must be cold. thereA . kern
wind III 50 and give Major .
hand
He strobe of down shs pan m
the sunset Joan looked after him
DULY. he had looked at her with the
eyes Of n stranger. looked n her "a
II he had not recognized her. or as
II he saw her now for the first time.
Down at the gate Ferrier was
talking TO Major.
Had agood rum he asked You
look cold
Il am--deuccd eoid.- was the
answer. Look out I'm going to
turn around
Ferricr stood back vhns he
s;eor~d the car about
I'm just going to take her back
70 The garage said Major a. he
drove off.
As Ferrier turned 70 90 back to
the house a telegraph boy sprang
from hls bicycle At the gate
lie looked at Fcrrier.
Telegram said Ferricr.
"Yes. air. name OF Fcrricr.~
Ferricr tore open the envelope
with sudden excitement. his hands
shook: he bungied II norvousiy. The
words danced before his eyes;
Letter received. Have nothing
TO do with them. Am writing
II WAS q cable from Micky In
Canada
Ferr1cr crurnpicd n into his peck.
ct and turned back TO the house.
Any last hope he had cherished died
once and forever: Joan was fallen
from the pedestal TO which his love
had exalted her. IL was no longer
possible TO disguise the truth--she
had lied 20 him and deceived him.
and made a fool OF him.
He crossed the narrow han OF the
cottage and went upstairs. he
walked listlessiy. as a man who has
lost all aim and interest In iife--the
head he generally held so proudly
erect, dropped.
The last ray OF sunset had faded:
the SEA was gray and restless: a
cool breeze had sprung up and flut.
tered the curtains at his window.
lie walked about the room collect.
ing his few belongings: he rammed
them isto q bag. In the morning
he would leave Enstsca; tonight he
would have II out with the three
scoundrels downstairs--and that
would be the end There was no
longer any need to play the game;
this chapter OF his life was about
TO close forever.
The garden gate banged suddenly.
as II under an impatient hand.
Looking thru the window. Ferrier
saw Major coming up the path; be
fore he reached the house. Joan ran
down towards him.
Terrier stood back. screened by
the flutte-,ag curtains. and watched.
Joan was speaking quickly. earn.
cstly: she laid hand on the mans
arm, he shook his head: she seemed
to plead with him.-
You promiscd--you promised"
she said. The words floated dis
tinctly up to Ferrier. Major was
looking down al her now: he
laughed a little, he put n familiar
arm about her waist. Terrier turned
away from the window. After all.
II was nothing to him. He had been
n fool all along for ever believing
In her. He remembered what
young Hastings had told him that
night In his rooms In the Adelphi.
Now. for the first time, he believed
that JOINS fear OF Major had all
been feigned-that II was she who
had helped to ruin the life OF the
poor little dead dancer.
The gong rang thru the house
Ferrier smoothcd his unruly hair
mechanically: for an hour or so
longer the farce must be kept up.
And hen-tomorrow--thc curtain
would be rung down, the footlights
extinguished. tho audience gone.
Eastsea left behind him, he would
be facing future that was without
hope or sunshine.
lie left his room and went slowly