, 1922-03-01
xvI--ccntInusd.

hint of unhappineSs. but she did not
stop to analyze It. She Went back
through his room. and through the lit
tie passage. and rejoIned Martin The
freedom of Peters apartment Aiix
had always taken as naturally us she
did the freedom OF her fathers.
Cant hear us. eh? Martin asked,
when again she stood beside him.
Positively o y she answered.
Look here" he said. abruptly.
swhat brought me up here is this.
Who's making love to cherry?'
Indignant. and with rising color. she
stared at rim.
"Who-whagi"
"She's having a nice little quiet fir
tation with somebody. Martin said,
with a significant and warning smile.
'.Who is it,"
Il don't know who's been talking
to you about Cherry. Martin" Alix
said, sharply, but you know o can't
repeat that sort of rotten scandal TO
me!r
Il don't mean any harm-I don't
mean any hnrm!' he assured her, with
a quick attempt to quiet he storm he
had raised. Don't get mad-don't
get madl But l happen to know that
there's some attraction that's keeping
Cherry here, and ! came up TO look
over the ground for myself. do you
seer Come on, now, put me onf'
Alix made an effort at ~self-contros.
Martin. you're mistaken !" she said,
quietly. you have no right TO listen
TO any one who tells you such things.
and II 1t wasn't that you're Cherry's
husband l wouldn't listen TO you'll But
you'll have 20 take my word for 1t
that it's a lie. We three have lived
UP here without seeing any 0ne-any
onei Cherry has hardly spoken TO a
man, except Peter and JAntone and
Kow, since she cnme !"
"who Is HI George sewanf" he
asked. shrewdiy.
"The Iawyerl oh. heavens. Martin +!
Why. George was q beau OF mine he's
q widower Of nifty. and has just an
nounced his engagement 70 h trained
nurse that took care Of his boyi"
Him. Martin commented.
III any one mentioned Cherry's name
In connection with George" ak said,
firmly. 'that was u perfectly malicious
~slandern-"
"SewaT's wasn't mentioned" Mar
tin said. hastily.
Whose name was mentioned.
thenY" Alix pursued. holly.
Well, nobody's name was men
toned" Mnrtip took a great many
creased and rubbed papers from his
vest pockets. and shifted them over.
Finally. with a fat. deliberate hand he
Helecred one and put the others away.
This Is from my mother" he said.
My aunt. AIRS. North"
I'VE saw her here. n week or two
agoi" ak said MS he paused.
well, she was In Portland. and saw
the folks" said Martin. And my
mother writes me this" And after
a few seconds Of searching he read
from the letter:
Bessie North saw Cherry and Mrs.
Joyce in Mil Valley. and If ! was you
would mo- let Cherry stay away too
long. A wife's place Is with her hus-
band. especially when she Is as pretty
as Cherry, and. II Bessie is right, some
body else thinks she's pretty, too. md
you know it doesn't take much TO start
people talking. 1t Isn't hk she had
a couple OF children TO Keep ner busy.
That's all of that" said Martin.
folding the letter. He eyed AlIx keen
iy. "well, what do you think?" he
asked. triumphantly.
Il think that's a mean, wicked thing
ia snyv h said, Indignantly. mo,
Martin" Che said. silencing him, as
he would v interrupted her. u
know she is beautiful and young, and
k-now-because she's told me-that
you and she feel that your marriage is
a mistake. but II you think
"oh, she said that, did she7 Now,