SISTERS By KATHLEEN NORRIS •"*' Copyright by Kathleen Norrli CHAPTER XVll—Continued. —l7 "No; Allx Is going to speak to him nbout it." Cherry outlined the talk that she and her sister had had at breakfast. "Then I shouldn't bring up the ques tion at all,**— Peter decided, quickly. "It would only mean an ugly and un necessary scene. It's much wiser to let him continue to think that you don't know anything about It, and to let Allx think that you are ignoring the whole thing!" "Until Sunday!" she whispered. "Until Sunday." Peter glanced at Martin and Alix, who were talking to gether. absorbedly, in low tones. "My little sweetheart, I'll make all this misery up to you!" he whispered. Her little hand was locked In his for the rest of the evening. • *•••*• Morning came, a crystal autumn morning, and life went on. If there was any change at the cabin it was a change for the better. Allx, who had been silent and troubled for a little while, was more serene now, as usual concerned for the comfort of her heusehold, and as usual busy all day long with her poultry and pigeons, her bee-keeping, stable, and dogs. Peter was his courteous, gentle. Interested self, more like the old Peter, who had always been occupied with his music and his books, than like the passion ately metamorphosed Peter who had been so changed by love for Cherry. Martin, satisfied with the general re spects ami consideration with which he found himself surrounded, accept ed life placidly enough; perhaps he had been disturbed by the advent of the letter, perhaps he was willing to let the question of an adjustment be tween Cherry and himself rest. It amused him to help get the house ready for a tenant, and from the fact that Cherry talked no more of living there, and made no comment upon big frequent reference to their departure on Monday, he deduced that she had come to her senses. Cherry, too, was less unhappy than she had been. By avoiding Peter, by refraining even in words and looks from the companionship for which she so hungered, by devoting herself to 'Allx, she managed to hold her feelings in leash. Even though Allx found that the knowledge of the secret they shared without ever mentioning stood between them like a screen, the sis ters, busy about the house, had won derful hours together. CHAPTER XVIII. , Saturday' came, a pet*fect day that filled the little valley to the brim with golden sunshirtjb| AJix, driving alone to the mountnTfll cabin', stared in the morning freshness at the bit* over head and said aloud, "Oh, what a day of gold !" The dog, sitting beside her on the front seat, flapped his tail in answer, to her voice, and she laughed at him. But tiie laugh was quickly followed by a sharp sigh. "Saturday," she mused, "and Mar tin expects Cherry to go, with him on Monday! Expects her to go back with him to a life of misery for her, exist ence with a man hates! Oh, Cher ry—my little sister! —there can be no happiness for you there! And Peter! Peter is left behind to who can not comfort him or still the ache that Is fearing his heart! My two loved ones, and what can I do to help them f" She. had come up to the cabin to do the usual last little dally fussing among the ducks and chickens and to bring Peter, if Peter had not gone Into town, back with her to Cherry's house. > They had all dined In the old Strick- I lfhul house the night before, and be cause of u sudden rainfall had decided to spend the- night there, too. The Chinese boy who had been helping the sisters, with their housecleanlng bad been persuaded to cook the dinner and get breakfast, and the evening about the old fireplace had been almost too poignantly sweet But suddenly, at about ten o'clock. Peter had surprised them all by get ting to his feet. He was going up to the cobfn, he said —must go, in fact. He would rather Wait, please, he told Alix, when she offered to drive him up In the car. Bewildered and a little apprehensive, she let hint go. To Cher ry, who seemed to feel suddenly sad and uneasy. All? .laughed about it, but she was secretly worried herself, and Immediately after breakfast the next morning decided to run up to the cabin In the cAr and assure herself that everything was right there. Cherry, who had not slept and who was pale, had come out to the car, herdistracted manner increasing Alix's sense that something was gravely amiss. She started on her trip with a heavy heart, but the half-hour's run soothed her In spite of herself, and nbw she reached the cabin In a much more cheerful mood. Peter was nowhere about, and as she plunged Into the work of bouse and farmyard she supposed, without giving the matter a conscious thought, that lie bad gone to the city. "Mis' Peter not go train," Kow an nounced presently. All Alix's vague suspicious awakened. "Not go train?" she asked with a premonitory pang. Kow made a large gesture, as Indi cating affairs disorganized. "Him no go to bed," he further stated. "Boss come late. He walkln' on porch." "He came' In late and walked on the porch!" Allx echoed In a low tone, as If to herself. "Where Mr. Peter go now?" she asked. "He have some coffee?" "No eat," the boy answered. • He indicated the direction of the creek, and after a while Allx, with an Icy heart, went to the bridge and the pool where I'eter had first found Cherry only a few weeks ago. He was standing, staring vaguely at the low and lisping stream, and Alix felt a great pang of pity when she saw him. He came to her smiling, hut as Cherry had smiled, with a wan and ghastly face. "P«(er, you're not well?" Alix said. "I th+nk—l am a little upst't," he answered. They walked back to the house together. Alix ordered him to take a hot bath, and made "him drink some coffee, when, refreshed anil grateful, he came out to the porch half an hour later. They shared the little meal that was her luncheon and his breakfast. He followed her to the car and got in the front seat beside her. , "You're awfully good to me," he said, briefly, when they were going down the long grade. Allx did not answer Immediately and he thought that she barf not heard. She ran the big machine through the valley, stopped at the postoffice, and still In silence began the climb toward the old house. The roads were all narrow here, but she could have fol lowed them In the dark, he knew, and he understood that It was not hrt- driv ing that made her face so thoughtful and kept her eyes from meeting his. "You say I'm good to you. Pete," she surprised him by saying suddenly. "I hope I am. For you've been very good to me, my dear. There's only one thing in life that I haven't got. and want. And that you can't, unfor tunately, get for me." He had flushed darkly, and he spoke with a little effort. "I'd like to try!" She ignored the invitation for a few minutes, and for an instant of panic he thought he saw her lip tremble. But when she turned to him, it was with her usual smile. "It's only that I would like to have you—and—and Martin —and Cherry as happy as I am!" she said quickly. And a second later the mood wns gone as she turned the car in at the home (rate and exclaimed, "There's Cherry now!" "Martin's somewhere about," Cherry said as 'l'eter Joined her. and Alix stopped the car within conversational range. Alix remarking that she would turn the car so that she might later start nn the grade, disappeared, and the two were together again, after what a night—and what a day!—and that was siiif (Iffy "Where Mr. Peter Go Now?" She • Asked. all thnt mattered. They spoke con fusedly, In brief monosyllables, and were silent, their eyes only furtively and briefly. "Can you walk up to the cabin with me?" Peter asked. "I want so much to speak to you. Everything's all ar ranged tor tomorrow. All you have to think of is yourself. Now, In case •>t missing the boat again—which Isn't conceivable, but we must be ready for nnythlng!—l shall go straight to the ciub. You must telephone me there. Just go off tonight quietly, get as much sleep as yob can, and keep your wits about you." "Tell me our plans again," Cherry faltered. "It's perfectly simple." be said, giv ing her anxious face a concerned glance "Toil are going to the Olivers'. I go In, In the morning, to get your suitcase and my own and get to the boat I shall be there »t half-past ten. You get tliere before eleven —you won't see me. But go straight on board and ask for Mrs. Joyce's cabin. Walt for me there!" "But —but suppose you don't come!" "I'll be there before you. It Is bet ter for us not to meet upstairs. But to be sure, I'll telephone you at Minna Oliver's at about nine o'clock tomor row morning. I'll just tell you that I'm on my way and that everything is all right! Do you realize that by this time tomorrow we shall be out at sea," he added, "lennipg on the rail—watch ing the Pacific race by—and belonging to each other forever and ever?" The picture flooded her face with happy color. "It's tomorrow at last!" she said wonderingl.v as they walked slowly Toward the house. "I thought it would never be. It's onJy a few" hours more now." "How will you feel when It's today?' he asked. "Oh, Peter, I shall be so glad when it's all over, and when the letters are written, and when we've been together for a year." she answered fervently. "I know It will be all as we have planned, but—but If It were over!" They reached the side door now and were mounting the three steps to gether. "Be patient until tomorrow," he Whispered. "Oh," she said softly, "I shan't breathe until tomorrow." Leaning across her to push back the light screen door, he found himself face to face with Allx. In the dark entryway Peter and Cherry had not seen her, had not heard her move. Pe ter cursed his carelessness; he could not remember, In the utter confusion of the moment, just what he and Cher: ry had said, but if it was of a betray ing nature, they had betrayed them selves. One chance In a hundred that she had not heard ! Yet, If she was acting, she was act ing superbly. Cherry had turned scar let and had given him an open glance of consternation, but Allx did not seem to see it. She addressed Peter, hut when he found himself physically un able to answer, she continued the con versation with no apparent conscious ness of his stumbling effort to appear natural. "There you are! Are we going to have auy tennis? It's after two o'clock now." "I had no idea it was so late," Peter said. "I knew it wns getting on," Cherry added, utterly at random. "Go in and teJI the boy we won't be hack until tomorrow," Martin sug gested to his wife. "You could all come down here to sleep," Cherry said, "and have break fast here!" • "I have to go Into town rather early tomorrow," I'eter remarked. "Porter's giving a at the "Bohemian club." "Why not walk up to the cabin?" Cherry suggested in a shaking voice. have' to take the car up. l'ou three walk! Come on, anybody who wants to ride!" Alix said. "They can walk," Martin said, get ting into ohe front seats "Me for the little old bus 1" Cherry came out of the house with her hat on, and Puck leaped before her into the hack seat. Alix watched her as site stepped up on the running hoard, and saw the color flicker In 'her beautiful face. "I thought you were going to walk?' Peter said nervously. He had saun tered up to them with an air of In difference. * "Shall I?" faltered Cherry. She looked at Alix, who had not yet climbed into the car and was pulling on her driving gloves. Alix, toward whose face the dog was making eager springs, .did not appear interested, so Cherry turned to Martin. "Walk with us, Mart?" she said. "Nix," Martin said comfortably, not stirring. Til be home before you, Pete, and wait for you," Alix said. She looked at him Irresolutely, as If she would have added more, but evldefitly" 'de clded against It and spoke again only In reference to the dog. "Keep Buck with you, will you. Pete?" she said. "He's getting too lazy. No, sir!" she reproached tjie animal affectionately. "You shall not ride! Well, the dear old Bucky-boy, does he want to come along?" , And she knelt do#n and put her arms about the animal, and laid her brown cheek, against his head. "You old fool 1" she said, shaking him gently to and fro. "You've got to stay with Peter. Old Buck—J" Suddenly she was on her feet and had sprung Into her place. "Hold him, Pete!" she said. "Oood by. Sis dear! All right, Martin?" The engine raced; the car slipped smoothly Into gear and vanished. Pe ter and Cherry stood looking at each other. "Give them a good start, or Bark will catch them," Peter said, his body swaying with the frantic Jumping of the straining dog. But to himself he said, with a sense of shock: "Ail* knows !* Buck was off like a rocket when he Anally Bet him free; bis feathery tall disappeared between the columns of THE ALAMANCE GLEANER, GRAHAM, N. C the redwoods. Without speaking Cherry and Peter started after him. "Anil now that we ureyilone togeth cr." Cherry said, after n few minutes "fhere seems to he .nothing to say We've said it all." "Nothing to say!" Peter echoed "AJix knows," he said In his heart. "Whatever we do. It all seems so— wrong!" Cherry said with watering eyes. "Whatever we do Is wrong," he agreed soberly. "But we gov" she said on a flutter ing breath. "We, must go!" Peter answered. And again, like.the ominous full of * heavy bell-tongue, the words formeo In his heart: "Alls knows. AJlx knows." He thought of the afternoon, only a few weeks ago, when Cherry's beauty had mnde so sudden and so Irresist ible an appeal to him, and of the In nocent delight of their luncheons to gether, when she had first confided In him, nnd of the days of secret and Intense Joy that her mere nearness and the knowledge that he would see her had afforded him. It. had all seemed so fresh, so natural, so entire ly their own affair, until the tragic day of Martin's reappearance t nd the hour of agonized waiting at the boat for the Cherry who did not come. There hnd been no joyous self-confi- She Ran Toward Them—Horror Wai In Her Aspect. dence In that hour, none In the dis tressed hujir nt the Orpheum, and the hour Just past, when Cherry's rarely displayed passion had wrenched from him his last vestige of dofibt. "But this was the culminating unhap plness that he should know, from Aiix's brave and gentle and generous look ns they purteil, that Alix knew, lie bad, in the wild rush and hurry of his thoughts, no time now to analyze what their love must mean to'lier, but it hurt him to see on her happy face those lines of sternness and gravity, to see her bright and honest eyes shadowed with that new look of pain. It was too lute now to .undo It; he" and Cherry must carry their desperate plan to a conclusion now, must dis appear and forget. They had tried, all this last dreadful week, they had botlr tried, to extinguish the flames, and they hud failed. Hut to I'eter there was no comforting thought anywhere. Wrong wo\ild be done to Martin, to Alix, to Cherry—and more tlutn even these, wrong to himself, to the Ideal of -himself that bud been his for so many vents, to the real I'eter Joyce. "Listen, that's Buck!" said Cherry, us the (log's loud und violent burking reached thern l'rom beyond a turn In the' twisting road. "He didn't catch thern, then." The next Instant a woman came up :he road, running und making a queer, a-hlmpering noise that Cherry never forgot. She was a stranger to them, but she ran toward them, making th« odd, gasping noise with much dry mouthing, and with wild eyes. Horror was In her aspect, and hor ror was the emotion that the first glimpse of her awakened vaguely their hearts, but us she saw them she suddenly found voice for so hideous a scream that Cherry's knees fulled her, and Peter sprang forward with a shout He gripped the woman's arm, and her frantic eyes were turned to him. "Ob, my God !" she cried In a hoarse, cawing voice. "My God ! They're over the bank—they're over the bank J" "Who?" I'eter shouted, his heart turning to ashes. "Ob, the car—the automobile!" the woman mouthed. "Oh, my God —I saw It go! I saw ft faU ! Oh. God, save them—oh. Gofl, lake them; don't let them suffer 'tint way!" Tliey were all running now, running with desperate speed down the long road, about the curves, on and on to ward the frantic noise of the dog's barking, and toward another noise, the sound of a human voice twisted and wild with agony. The strange woman was crying out wildly; Cherry was sobbing a prayer. Peter, without knowing that he spoke at all, waa repeating over and over again the words: "Not AIlx —my God I —lt cannot be —she has never had an accident before —not Allx ■ (TO BE CONTINUED.) Tha Mariners of Woman. "Madam," said the man standing In the street car. "why do you persist In punching me with your umbrella?" "I want to make you look nround so I can thank you for giving me your seat. Now, «lr, don't go off and say that women an/ manners.'' •ROAD BUILDING DEVICE FOR TREATING SAND Engineers of California Bureau of Public Roads Use Blower to-* Obtain Material. r (Prepared by the United States Depart ment of Agriculture.) A new method of treating a local sand to make ft conform to the speci fications for a concrete road has been adopted by the engineers of the bu reau of public works In charge of California federal-aid project No. 41. Near the south end of the project no local sand could he found which would conform to the requirements of the specifications ap proved by the bureau of roads of the United States Department of Agricul ture. These prescribed that the sand should contain no more than 5 per cent of material which would pass a 100-mesh sieve. The local sand ana lyzed about 15 to 20 per cent, which was entirely too high to permit Its use. Instead of falling buck tipon the Im portation of suitable sand from an other locality, the engineers devised a plant for blowing the fine particles from the sand. This district Is ex tremely arid, and in summer the tem perature sometimes mounts to 120 de crees in the shade, so that the sand Is very dry when worked. The device used consists of an ordinary conveyor, which lifts the sand to a revolving screen. Material which will pass a one-fourth-inch mesh Is discharged Into a hopper under the screen and then through u narrow opening Into a storage bfti below. In fulling from the hopper to the bin, the sheet of sand passes directly In front of a lozzle, which directs against It a cur •fltit of nlr 'from ft centrifugal air ilower. By rm'ans of 'it pressure reg- •*' ■ % ,v } - ' ' *** . *• : A ,n Improved Highway In California. winter at the blower, the velocity of the ulr at the nozzle can be BO con trolled as to blow from the falling Hand any desired percentage of the liner material. The blower Is operated by 'a belt from the same gas engine which op erates the conveyor and revolving screen. The whole device Is compact and Inexpensive. The result Is a sat isfactory sand obtained at less cost than by any other method. The suc cess of the plan depends, of course, on their dryness of the sand. If It were necessary to dry It, the Increased cost of treatmAit might make the Impor tation of suitable material prefera ble. TOURIST TRAFFIC PAYS BIG Increase of Americana ' Into Canada Expected to Pay for Ontario's Highway Syatem. It Is anticipated that American tourist traffic will pay for ation and upkeep of Ontario's highways system. This traffic has increased re markably since the Toronto-Hamilton highway was built, and already annual revenue from this source runs Into millions of dollars. During 11W0 proximately 37,fM)0 American motor cars crossed *he border Into Ontario, remaining from one hour to six months. BETTER HIGHWAYS IN SOUTH Over $278,000,000 Voted for Improved Road* In Dixie—Tex** Lead* With $97,772,000. Bad road* must go! This Is the ul timatum of people llvltg In Dixie. Tliat they are alert to their urgent need of good roads Is attested by the tremendous sums voted In recent state and county bond Issues. Over s'/78,- 000,000 Is now available fur good roads expenditure In the Hotlth. Texas leads with $5*7,772,000 and Virginia la sec »nd with *50,000,000. Hour of Least Traffic. As the result of a survey made by the bureau of publtr roads. United States department of ajrrlculture, on the most traveled roads In the country, the hour when there la Vast traffic la between 2 and 3 o'clock In the room ing. Tuesday Is the day In fhe week when traffic reaches the lowest ebb. Boom In South Carolina. A state bond Issue of $50,000,000 for Improved highways I* the object sought by a good roads association Just organized In Sooth Carolina. EVEN CAREFUL CALOMELUSERS ARE SALIVATED Next Dose of Treacherous Drug May Start Misery • for You. Calomel Is dangerous. It may salivate you and make you suffer fearfully from soreness of gums, tenderness of jaws £0(1 teeth, swollen tongue and exces sive saliva dribbling from the mouth. Don't trust calomel. It Is mercury; quicksilver. If you feel bilious,' headachy, consti pated and all knocked out. Just go to your druggist and get a bottle of Dod son's Liver Tone for a few cents which Is a harmless vegetable substitute for dangerous calomel. Take a spoonful and If It doesn't start your liver and straighten you up better and quicker than nasty calomel and without making you sick, you Just go back and get your money. If you take you'U be sick and nauseated tomorrow; besides, It may salivate you, while If you take Dodson's Liver Tone you will wake up feeling great. No salts necessary. Give It to the children because It Is per fectly harmless and can not salivate. —Advertisement. PROVERBS HELD IN COMMON Remarkable Similarity of Ideas Noted Among Nations, Both of the J, " Old and New World. The similarity of ideas all over the world is found In the similarity of ex pressions to convey the Ideas. The old English proverb "A fool and his money are soon parted," finds Its counterpart in the plyase, "There Is no medicine .for a fool." Hut the Japanese also claim that by good management they can do something even with fools, when they say, "Fools and scissors move according to the mode of using them." Some of us car ry our Latin with us all our lives, just because we had a good teacher. To these, the old Latin saying, "The eagle does not catch tiles." (Aquila non capit museas) will recall old memories of the pride and sarcasm of the no mans. So also will they be pleased to read the Japanese aphorism, "The fal con docs not peck at ears erf corn," which is true, as falcons, especially those of the peregrine type, are much more likely to seize and carry small animals like lambs, rabbits, chickens. —Philadelphia Ledger. OCEANS HARD TO IMAGINE People of the Middle Ages Found It Difficult to Conceive Extent of Waters. Eratosthenes was right; the earth was u globe. But what philosopher ever Imagined that It was so large! Homer was right when he sang of the "mighty flood," hut he was thinking of the Insignificant Mediterranean. What poet hud imagination enough to picture, the vastness of the Pacific! .Many had surmised the truth, hut none had realized Its extent. When the caravels of Columbus had sailed anil returned the wise ones of the Renais sance were astonished by the story brought home. It seemed Impossible that there could he so much water. And still the girth of the seas was uncomprehended. It was only when Magellan's Santa Vlttoria bad circum navigated the globe and dropped an chor In the Hay of San Liicar that ft realization of the world of water.be gan toodawn. The Atlantic was as tonishing enough In all conscience; but the Pacific was overwhelming and dumfoundlng.—John C. Van Dyke. A society composed of members who agree to study their own faults would have plenty to do. A 1 W I ASRRIN Never say "Aspirin" without saying "Bayer." WARNING! Unless you see name "Bayer" on tablets, you are not getting genuine Aspirin prescribed by physicians over 21 years and proved safe by millions for Colds Headache Rheumatism Toothache Neuralgia Neuritis L Earache Lumbago Pain, Pain Accept only "Bayer" package which contains proper directions. Handy tin bona of 12 tablet*—Bottles of 24 and 100—All druggists. Aastria Is the trmO* sirt of B«y«r Maasfsctnr* at Mooosootlcmciteitsr of BsMqUsmM TAKE ASPIRIN ONLY * AS TOLD BY "BAYER" "Bayer" Introduced Aspirin to th« Physician* Over 21 Years Ago. To get quick relief follow carefully the safe and proper directions In each unbroken package of "Bayer Tablets of Aspirin." This package Is plainly stamped with the safety "Bayer Cross." The "Bayer Cross" means the gen uine, world-famous Aspirin prescribed by physicians for over twenty-one /ears.—Advertisement. HAVE NEW RINGWORM CURE Roentgen Rays Are Being Used Suc cessfully in Treatment of Most Annoying Affliction. Ringworm Is now successfully treat ed by removing the hair with Roent gen rays and then applying a lotion which will penetrate the hair follicles and kill the parasites that are the cause of the trouble. Drs. Howard Fox and T. B. H. An derson, both of the United States public health service, described In the Journal of the [American Medical Asso ciation the latest technique and cite a few of the strange results that have, followed When the new hair grew In again. "" ~~ • They have observed that sometimes u golden-haired child Is transformed into u brunette, a straight-haired into a curly-headed and the kinky wool of negroes becomes straight. But they express much doubt ns to the perma nency of these changes. MOTHER, QI|ICK! GIVE CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP FOR CHILD'S BOWELS Even a sick child loves the "fruity" 'aste of "California Fig Syrup." If the little tongue is coated, or If your child Is listless, cross, feverish, full of cold, or has colic, a teaspoonful will never fall to open the bowels. In a few hours you can see for yourself how thoroughly It works all the constipa tion poison, sour bile and waste from the tender, little bowels and gives you a well, playful child again. Millions of mothers keep "California Fig Syrup" handy. They know a tea spoonful today saves a sick child to morrow. Ask your druggist for genuine" "California Fig Syrup" which hag di rections for babies and children of all ftges printed on bottle. Mother! You must say "California" or you may get an Imitation tig syrup.—Advertisement. Beauty Breaks in Everywhere. In every landscape the point of as tonishment Is the meeting of the sky and the eurth, and that Is seen {rom the tlrst hillock as well as from'the top of the Alleghanles. The stars at night stoop down over the brownest, homeliest common with all the mag nificence which they shed on the Cam pagna, or on the marble deserts of Egypt. The uprolled clouds and the colors of morning and evening will transfigure maples and alders. The difference between landscape and landscape Is small, but there Is great difference in the beholders. There 1» nothing so wonderful In any particu lar landsca|>e ns the necessity of be ing beautiful under which every land scape lies. Nature cannot be sur prised In undress. Beauty breaks la everywhere.—Emerson. High Price*. The night cashier overheard a pe culiar conversation In Beaver Cross ing the other day. A farmer was In a store buying some groceries. "Wnnt any flour?" asked the grocer. "No; flour's too high. 1 can git along with out It." After a whllq the grocer said: "Sold your wheat. Bill?" "Nope; I'm going to hang onto mine ; they ain't payln' nothin' for it yet."—St. Louis ■Globe-Democrat. No matter how proud a girl may be of her family name, she's seldom averse to changing It. •

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view