The Holly chieftain., 1922-03-02
II can hear him :" giggled Allx,

l ",
Peter continued.
"Cherry's going in to the dentist to-
morrow" said Alix.
"Oh, SO 1 ami" Cherry said In
rather strained voice.
She did not look at Peter. nor did
he at her, but they felt each others
thoughts like spoken word.
"Had you forgotten?" Ali1 asked.
II don't think I'll go in, for 1 have
about weeks work here to do"
Peter left them, without one word
or look for Cherry. who went back to
the house with her sister in a most
| agitated and wretched state of mind.
She had the telephone in her hand, to
cancel the engagement with her dem
tist, when Alix suddenly consented to
accompany her into town; "and at
lunch time we'll take chance on the
st. Francis. Sis." Alix said, innocently,
"for Peter almost always lunches
there!"
Feeling that the question was set
tied, yet restless and unsatisfied still,
Cherry dressed for town; they climbed
into the car; Alix's firm hands, in yell
low chamoIs gloves, snatched at the
wheel; the die was cast.
Yet at the station another change of
plan occurred, for as Alix brought the
car to the platform Anne came toward
them from the arriving train, gloved
and demure and smiling Anne, an1-
ious, she explained, to talk over this
newest development, and whether IT
proved to be of any value or not" to
try to find out what Uncle Lee had
really wanted for them all, and then
agree to do that in friendly manner,
out of court.
my first feeling, when Frenzy told
me-" said Anne, chatting pleasantly in
the shade, twas one Of such relief!
For 1 hadn't wanted all that money
one Bit" she confessed gaily. II only
wanted to do what was fair. Only
two or three nights ago l said to
Frenzy that 1t really belonged to us
all, and last night we talked and
talked about it, and the result was
that said that must see the girls
we three are the only ones concerned,
after all, and"-Anne's old half-merry
and half-pouting manner was un-
changed-"what we decide Is what
really matters!' she finished.
"Why, there is no question that it's
Daddy's handwriting" Cherry said,
with what, for her. was sharpness,
"and 1t seems to met seems to me,
Anne" she added, hesitatingly.
"That you have a nervew Alix fln-
ished, not with any particular venom.
"That document throws the case out
of court" she said fatty. "Peter is
confident Of that!"
Anne's pale face flushed and her
eyes narrowed.
Cherry was flushed and uncomfort-
able. There was an awkward pause.
"Board?" shouted trainman, with
rising infection. The sisters looked
at each other in a panic of haste.
II can't leave this car here" Alix
exclaimed. 1--WE got to park her and
lock her and everythingl Run; get
on board, Cherry. don't have to 90
in, anyway-you've got date!"
Cherrys heart leaped, sank coldly,
and leaped again, as with q swift nod
Of parting she hurried for her train.
The other two women watched her
with forced interest as she climbed
on board and as the train slipped
noiselessly out of sight. 1t curved
among the redwoods and was gone be-
fore either spoke again. Then, as her
eyes met Annes friendly, questioning
smile, Alix said awkwardly:
II think the only thing to do Is for
you and Justin to take this up with
Peter, Anne. l mean-I mean that
you were the ones who proposed to
bring 1t into court in the first place,
and-and / don't understand much
about 1t. AS far as coming to any
agreement with me is concerned, you
might just as well have gone back on
the train with Cherry. l hate to talk
this way-but we all think you acted
very-well, very meanly!" Alix fin
ished rather fatty.
Perhaps it's just rs well to under
stand each other!" Anne said, with
hot cheeks. They exchanged few
more sentences, wasted words and
angry ones, and then Anne walked
over to seat in the shade, to wait
for another train, and Alix, with her
heart beating hard and her color high,
drove at mad speed back to the noun
tain cabin.
II didn't ask her to lunch-I don't
care!" Alix said to herself, In agita-
tion. "She and Justin know they're
beaten-they're just trying to patch
1t up before It's too late-I don't care
ii won't have her think she can get
away with any such scheme-!"
(To BE CONTINUED)