San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-06
The Making Of
a Husband
Ann LiSle' s N eW
Phase of Jim and
Anne's Marital
Adventure
By Ann Isle
By Ann Isle
Chapter 40.

swer," i said firmly when the tele-
phone operator assured me she could
not get The Hedgerow. 1T may be y
matter of life and death to get in touch
with them
At last BERTHE Lingard's voice came
over the telephone, in sleeper, more
resentful tones than those Of nine
o'clock.
~This is Mrs. Harrison, and you
mustn't hang up again." said firm
ly. 1T may be a matter Of life ard
death. You told me at nine that Mr..
Perry was on his way here to The
Birches. He hasn't come. Was my
sister-in-law, Mrs. Dalton, with him."
Il daresay,' BERTHE Lingard said
with the indifference that marks his
condition. IF that's all, I'll just tod
die back to bed. 1t is fiercely cold
here-not at all like the Lodge where
I'm used to sleeping"
Il thought it took you so long to
answer because YOU were using an ex-
tension. Are you at The Hedgerow
itself!" / demanded.
didn't I just tell you So" came
back the indignant reply. I'm sure,
j don't see what it is you can want
to ask me that all over again after
I've just been telling you
"All right" broke in. "But don't
you see-you're in charge? You've
been entrusted with a mission. Mr..
Perry has made you his lieutenant.
He had a dangerous expedition TO
make, and he left you TO look out for
things"
Il daresay you're right" came back
in a more animated tone than any Bet
tie Lingard had hitherto used. what
is it you think / ought TO be up to-"
~That's for you TO decide. You're
a man." / said firmly.
sid like jolly well to go back 10
bed,p he whimpered in tone that sug-
gested / had exaggerated bit when
called him a man.
well, you can't" / said. my hus-
band and / started for the Hedgerow
this afternoon. We were coming TO
tea. Jim got caught under a falling
tree branch and was frightfully hurt.
dragged him back here and got him
to bed. But he was almost frozen,
and now he's asleep, and I'd think it
was risking his life to wake him. But
we had fearful time out in the storm,
and I've an idea that it may be worse
now: We must do something, !
Think
"Shall I 70 out and look for them
BERTHE Lingard asked naively.
you can't. You wouldn't do any
good" / cried. IF only l knew how
10 get Tarasoy. He might be able 10
do something. Here such a giant"
Waits cried BERTHE Lingard in a
tone of dawning intelligence. Il was
scolding Arlette for not getting the
shoes and things down TO Zekc
Schmidt, and she told me this Tarasov
person had gone down with her duff
fle. We could telephone him at
Schmidt's, don't you think, and ask
him to start out on a hunt. We can't
have them lost in the snow, you
know
"Tarasov's too far off," I replied.
BY the time you get him up and out
anything might happen. To be lost
in this snow for hours won't do"
Il might send one Of the dogs 10
look for them"-began BERTHE Lingard.
But his words reused me 10 a reali-
zation Of something that | might have
seen before if only Id been half awake
half aware Of what was going on.
/ thought Of the dog / had mistaken
for a wolf-of the dog that had made
such desperate efforts 10 come near
me. Even then l had thought him a
fierce, half-starved and almost wild
animal dog it was necessary 70
hide from. Now ] began 10 wonder,
and put my thoughts into words.
Go at once, please. and see if one
Of the DOGS from your place has broken
loose. a dog followed US tonight and
scared me half 10 death. He seemed
bent on attacking Us. ] think now be
might have been determined 70 attract
my attention because he wanted 70
lead me TO someone in need-his own
someone" Nicholas Perry perhaps.
VIII you see"
IL did not surprise me when BERTHE
Lingard came back after what had
seemed like an interminable period
aud reported that Scott" the big
Collie. was missing from his kennel.
And then he interrupted himself with
Ehout:
Heres Scott now-outside. rowling
like mad. III 20 down and see what
he wants"
A moment later could hear the
dogs excited barking and Bertie Lin
CARDS wild efforts 10 silence him as be
said:
~Scott's here-got Perry's scarf in
HE mouth. He's come 10 fetch me.
III 20 along tieing bits Of rag 70 trees
for markers. TIE dog will lead me.
You might rout out Tarasov and ask
him 10 stop by and mark my trail"
And then, before ] could urge Ber-
tie Lingard 70 stop and realize that
he wasn't fit 10 start off on n midnight
journey in the cold and the snow. he
hung up the receiver. By the time
reused Zeke Schmidt's sister 70 an
swer their telephone, Tarasov had left.
The STATIONS were out Of town ard
do not know any Of our other neigh
bors. ] dared not rouse the village,
for their idle suEmises might bring
Jeanie more harm than a few hours in
the snow.
began TO pace the floor helplessly.
trying 10 think, tryins 70 plan. but
shove al trying 10 believe that there
was \ chance that n dog and a mental
Wcnkling would find come way Of saw
ing Jeanie from the blizzard. "But
how can I face Jim and pat-if the