The Dolores star., 1922-03-24

II can hear him - giggled Alix.
"And l guess both you girls will
have to come In In a day or two"
Peter continued.
"Cherry's going in to the dentist to-
morrow" said Allx.
"oh. so / ami" Cherry snid In q
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?" Alix asked.
'I don't think I'll go in, for have
about n 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
agitnted 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 well take a 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 ut the station another change of
| plan occurred, for as Alix brought the
car to the platform Anne came toward
them from the arriving train, a gloved
and demure and smiling Anne. anx-
ious. she explained. to talk over this
newest development, and whether II
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 I 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
all, and last night we talked and
talked about 1t, and the result was
that I said that I 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 mattersr she finished
"Why, there is no question that It's
Daddy's handwriting" Cherry said,
with what, for her, was sharpness.
land 1t seems to met seems to me,
ehs,
THAT you have nervev" AlIx fin
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
a rising infection. The sisters looked
at each other in panic Of haste.
II can't leave this car here" Alix
exclaimed. 1--WE got to park her and
lock her and everything! Run; get
on board, Cherry. don't have to 60
In, anyway-you've got a date!"
Cherry's heart leaped, sank coldly,
and leaped again, as with a 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 Anne's friendly. questioning
smile, Allx said awkwardly:
II think the only thing to do Is for
you and Justin to take this up with
Peter, Anne. mean-I mean that
you were the ones who proposed to
bring 1t into court in the first place,
and-and l 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 meanlyp Alix fin-
ished rather fatty.
Perhaps it's just as 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 lust irving to match