, 1922-02-22

his breath. well, all right, / don't
care, get your divorce" he agreed.
carelessly. But I'll have something
to say about that, too" he warned her.
You can drag the whole thing up be-
fore the courts if you want to-cnly
remember, if you don't like 1t much,
you did it. 1t never occurred to me
even to think of such a thingi Pve
done my share in this business; you
never asked me for anything | could
give. o hat you didn't get you've
never been tied town to homework
like other women; you're not raising
a family of kids-go ahead, tell every
shop-girl in San Francisco all about
it. in the papers, and see how much
sympathy you geti"
"Oh, you beastl' Cherry said, be-
tween her teeth, furious tears in her
eyes. The water swan in a blur of
blue before her as they rose to go
downstairs at Sausalito.
Martin glanced at her with impa-
thence. Her tears never failed to
anger him.
Don't cry, for Gods sake!" he said,
~nervously glancing about for possible
onlookers. What do you want me to
dc? For the Lords sake don't make
a scene until you and l have a chance
TO talk this over quietly
Cherry's thoughts were with Peter.
In her soul she felt as If his arm was
about her, as If she were pouring out
to him the whole troubled story. sure
that he would rescue and console her.
She had wiped her eyes, and some
what recovered calm, but she trusted
herself only to shrug her shoulder as
she preceded Martin to the train.
There was no time for another word.
for Alix suddenly took possession of
them. She had had time to bring the
car all h six miles to Sausalito, and
meant to drive them direct to the val
ley from there.
She greeted Martin ~affectIonateIy.
although even while she did so her
eyes went with a quick, worried look
TO Cherry. They had been quarreling,
of course-it was too bad, Alix
thought, but her own course was clear.
Until she could take her cue from
them, she must treat them both with
thNSAiui Observation-Disclosures OF the
storm.
They reached the valley and Martin
was magnanimous about the delayed
lunch. Anything would do for him.
he said he was taking a couple of
days holiday, and everything went.
kow was %chopping wood after lunch,
n he sauntered out to the block with
suggestions; Alix, laying a fire for the
evening. simply because she liked to
do that sort of work, was favored with
directions. Finally Martin pushed her
aside.
Here, let me do that" he said.
You'd have a fine fire here, at that
rate /"
Later he went down to the old house
with them, to spend there an hour
that was trying to both women. 1t
was almost in order now Cherry had
pleased her simple fancy in the matter
of hangings and papering, and the
effect was fresh and good.
Girls going to rent this?' Martin
asked.
UNLESS you and Cherry come live
here" Alix said boldly. He smiled
t%olerantly.
"Why should we?'
well, why shouldn't your"
Locating, eh?"
mo, not loafing. But you could
transfer your work to San Francisco,
couldn't your
Martin smiled a deep, wise, long
enduring smile.
"Oh, you'd get me a job, l Supposed"
he asked. II love the way you women
try to run things" he added, but /
guess I'll paddle my own canoe for a
while longerl'
"There is no earthly reason why you
shouldn't live here" Alix said pleas
antly.
There is no earthly reason why we
should" Martin returned. He was
annoyed by a suspicion that Alix and
Cherry had arranged between them to
make this plan the alternative to a
divorce. ITO tell you the honest truth,
| don't like Mill valleyr'
Alix tasted despair. Small hope Of
preserving this particular relationship.
He was us Cherry had said, "impos-
sible."
"Well. we must try to make you like
Mill Valley betterr' she said with
resolute good-nature. ''Of course, 1t
means a lot to Cherry and to me TO be
near each other !" .
"That may be true. too Martin
agreed, taking the front seat again
for the drive home.
Alix was surprised at Cherry's pas
sivity and silence, but Cherry was
wrapped In a sickannd nervous dream,
unable either to interpret the present
or face the future with amy courage.
Before luncheon he had followed her
into her room anil had put his arm
about her. But she Ind quietly shaken
him off, with the nervous murmur: