The Dolores star., 1922-04-07
SISTERS
BY
KATHLEEN
NORRIS

I known-how much had she be-
trayed-
Gasping, trying to smile, she looked
up ut him. while the ferry place
whirled about her and pulses drummed
In her ears. She had automatically
given him her hand; now he kissed
her.
Hello, Cherry; where you goingF
for the third time.
81 came into town to shop" she
faltered.
"You what?" She had not really
been intelligihle, and she felt it, with
pang of fright. He must not suspect
the steamer was there. only short
block away: Peter might pass them;
a chance word might be fatal-he must
| not suspect
I'm shopping!" she said distinctly,
with dry lips. And she managed to
smile.
WELL" Martin said. surprised to
see me?'
"Oh, Martin" said her fluttered
voice. Even In the utter panic of
heart and soul she knew that for
safety's sake she must find his vanity.
I'm going to tell you something
that will surprise you" he said. I'm
through with the Red Creek people,"
MARTINI Cherry enunclated almost
voicelessly. She looked from a flower
vendor to newsboy, looked at the
cars. the people-she must not faint.
She must not faint.
"Well-but where are you going?
Homer"
~ was going to the dentist min
ute, but It's not important" They
had turned and were walking across
to the ferry She knew that there was
no way In which she might escape
him. "What did you say?" she said.
81 asked you when the next boat
left for Mill Valley?'
I'VE can-go-find out" Cherrys
thoughts were spinning. She must
warn Peter somehow. 1t was twenty
minutes Of eleven by the ferry clock.
Twenty minutes of eleven. In twenty
minutes the boat would sail. She
thought desperately of the womens
waiting room upstairs; she might
plead the necessity of telephoning
from 1t. But 1t had but one door, and
Martin would wait at that door.
Suddenly she realized that her only
hope of warning Peter was to send
messenger. But If Martin should
chance to connect her neighborhoOd
with the boat, when he met her, and
her sending of message to Peter
here
Il think there's boat at eleven
something" she said. collectively.
Suppose you go and find out?"
She glanced toward the entrance
of the Sausalito waiting-room, a hun
dred yards away, and mad hope
leaped in her heart. If he turned his
back on her
"What are you going to do?" he
asked, somewhat surprised.
II ought to telephone Alix!" Her
despair lent her wit. If he went to
the ticket Office, and she into a tele-
phone booth, she might escape him
yeti While he dawdled here, minutes
were flying, and Peter was watching
every car and every passer-by. torn
with the same agony that was tearing
her. "If you'll go find out the exact
time and get tickets" she said, I'll
telephone Alix."
"Tickets?" he echoed, with all Mar
tins old, maddening slowness.
Haven't you got return ticket?'
Il have mileage!" she blundered.
thnr,
Martin said. Telephone" he added,
nodding toward row of booths, mo
hurry; we've got piles of time!"
She remembered that he liked q
masculine assumption of easiness
where all trains, tickets, railroad con-
nections, and transit business of any
sort were concerned. He liked to loi-
ter elaborately while other people
were running, liked to pull out his
big watch and assure her that they had
all the time in the world. She tried
to call number, left the booth, paid
a staring girl. and rejoined him.
'Busy!" she reported.
Il was just thinking" Martin said,
that we might stay in town and go
to the Orpheum; how about it? Do
we have to have Peter and AIixT
Cherry flushed, angered again, In
the well-remembered way, under all
her fright and stir. Her voice had
its old bored note.
"Well, Martin, I've been their guest
for two months !"
I'D just as soon have them!" Mar
tin conceded. indifferently.
| But the diverted thought had helped
Cherry, irritation had nerved her, and
the reminder Of Martins old, trying
stupidlties had lessened her fear Of
him.
1--WE got to send a telegram-for
Alix." she said.
"What about?' he asked, less curl.
Gus than ill-bred.
"Goodby to some people who are
sailing" Cherry answered, calmly
"Only don't mention it to Alix, because
l promised it would go earlierl" she