San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-26
The Making Of
a Husband
A n n LiSLe'S N e 10
Phase of Jim and
Anme's Marital
Adventure
By ANN Isle
Chapter 100.
By ANN Isle

copyright, 1873, king Feature Syn, Inc.
"Arlette" repeated duly. why
do you telephone to ask me of her.
What should / know of Arlctte !"
"Yes, Arlette," Nicholas Perry re.
iterated, speaking with a crispness
that conveyed itself over the telc-
phone wires and made Itsels felt al
the way from The Hedgcrow TO The
Birches. "She isn't here. She went
upstate on some business for Zeke
Schmidt. And she hasn't return. d, l
thought she might have been able 10
get as far as your place, Tut that tine
snowdrifts were so heavy between
The Birches and here that she could
not get any further"
"She isn't here" / said.
While Nicholas Perry was speak
ing, fragments were drifting about in
my mind like the colorel bits that
flick around in a kaleidoscope. And
like those bits, the fragment, were
taking on distinct pattern. Jim had
gone up state. Jim is back. Arlettc.
too, had gone upstate. Arlette might
get home at any minute. In sick
dread i waited for Mr.. Perry to cry
out suddenly:
why. here she is :"
| wanted to get away from the
telephone before that could happen.
Idly l CHANGED remark:
allow could she get through-this
far?"
"The trains are running. They've
CLEANED the tracks. It's noon, you
know"
1 found my mind darling off at
tangents.
is Jeanne still asleep" demand
ed of myself. "And where is Tara-
SOW? Suppose he-died during The
night"
Nicholas Perry's voice brought me
back abruptly,
I'm worried about Arlette. She
should have returned by the first
train that got through. There have
been two, and she wasn't on either
IF them. I've called Zeke, and the
child isn't at his place-nor yet with
his sister,"
"Oh, poor little Arlcttc. maybe she
Is lost in the snowi Maybe she frozc
out in the blizzard" | cried forgetting
all suspicion and jealousy and finding
myself moved by nothing save com
passion.
heard grunt behind me, ana
voice cut across what Mr.. Perry
was trying to say.
Wait minute I said to him.
There is someone here who wants TO
tell us something"
Then ! put my hand over the re-
ceivcr and turned TO face the big Cos
sack, fully dressed in his boots and his
short fur coat and looking none the
worse for his experience of the night
before.
as little Arlette out by blizzard
what might have froze Tarasov il YOU
do not save him?' He asked ex-
citedly.
"Mr. Perry doesn't know where she
IS l acknowledged. Hes frightfnl.
ly upset"
Tell him be calm" Tarasov or.
dcred. "Arlette she maybe in my
shack by woods. She maybe in her |
own shack down the hill. Maybe she
have get off train Mt siding liks |
often her maman liked, for to go slide
down hill in snow"
Three trains came in without her |
tnls morning, i SAID.
Siding come before station" Tar
asov explained. at mile from sid |
ing till station. think perhaps |
Arlettc have get off. think / find |
her by cottage-hcr shack"
Why do you think that?" j asked. |
Tarasov gave me an inscrutable |
look ms he replied:
Her maman she like slide in |
Al. Il. .
"That isn't what you really think
/ objected.
For reply Tarasov fell on his knees, |
seized my hand in his and put his |
lips to it in n manner that made me |
think of n knight swearing allegiance |
10 his leigc lord back in the days of |
chivalry.
81 60 find Arlcttc," he said ouiet- |
ly. "Whcn I find her Mt time enough !
we talk. Maybe the snow too heavy. |
Maybe it right ] shall find her. / |
go look for poor little Arlette before |
she get lose"
whats all the excitemcnt?r Jim's |
voice broke in suddenly and without
any special concern. "Why should |
you look for Arctte? The child was |
on the train that brought me in. !
She got on a few stations after l !
did She had big walking stick |
she's gone to get for Zeke, some spe-
eial boots friends of his make up |
state, and scads of stuff. | didn't |
think the child ought to try to get |
through the snow with all those things |
and so ! fetched her here behind a |
brave jehu who wasn't afraid to |
drive his sled this far through the
drifts. She's out in the kitchen get
ting breakfast. So let's all be calm |
and sit down to compare notes on
the storm"
"She blow fierce" contributed |
Tarasov. IL go town for provisions.
! get stuck in snow. Most / freeze. |
Barbara Lyovna she save me-"
"Tm glad my wife had you to
protect her." said Jim pleasantly. Il |
was 80 worried didn't know what
to do when this northcr started TO
blow. / was determined to get
through if j had TO walk. / needn't |
have hurried so fast"
His face darkened as he spoke.
Something in his look must have
suggested the wisdom OF a hasty exit
to Tarasov.
At go help Arlcttc." he said.
turned. drawn by something fixed
III Jim's glance. .Icanie was stand
ing in the hallway like figure Of
stone waiting to have life brcathcd
rpo her. realized suddenly that IL