Alaska sentinel., 1905-06-29

ed laZily up at the yellow tinted walls. at the window next his bed There were yellow curtains at 1t, and on the window sill was jar filled with bios. soming daffodfIs They looked pretty in the sunshine. Stafford was so en- crossed in watching them that he did not notice the girl standing at the half opened door until the nurse had left the room, and she came to the front of the bed and smiled down at him.
 Was it yesterday:" asked Stafford.
 She laughed.
 You have been bad. haven't you? It was day before. day before, day be fore yesterday Last Tuesday"
 Stafford stared steadily up at her, Last Tuesday, And he should have turned in the interview by Wednesday, so Curtis could hustle the illustrations.
 Did you wire to New York
 We couldn't. We didn't know where to wire You're the Prince In cog. you know We don't know blessed thing about you. who you are or where you came from. It's very in- tcresting"
 So it is," assented Stafford seri- ously May I ask If Mir. Houghton has seen me-"
 oh, yes He came up the very first thing, and he thought you were all right. We didn't want Rallies, you know. One must draw the line somewhere. But papa said you were all right, so We kept you. Otherwise he would have sent you to hospital and settled the damages with you later. As it is, you are here, and have daffodils, and-'
 No damages"
 She laughed at him again.
 oh, you might even collect dam ages, In spite of the daffodls. What shall tell papa you wsnt?"
 Tell him I want an interview" said Stafford, grmly. And say, will you please give me the pad and pencil in the inside pocket of my oyercoat-no. the other -thanks-before he comes up%"
 When Houghton entered he gave the occupant of the bed q quick, direct look. The girl was behind him. Stafford punched another pillow back of his head and tried to sit up.
 Keep still" said Houghton. Grace will take your notes for you. Is this what you came after:"
 Yes. From the 'Record-News, New York Stafford fumbled weakly to get his old grip on the pencil. We want your view on the strike situation. The elevated men went out Monday, and the subway followed them Tues day morning. If the surface men go out 1t will tie up the whole town. Blxby heads the committee of arbitra- ton, but they say you are back of him and won't arbitrate."
 Houghton opened his mouth to speak and shut 1t again, as he looked down at the white, dogged young face on the pillows. When he left the room half an hour later Stafford held eleven pages of notes the girl had taken down for him. It was the broadest inter view old Houghton had ever given out to any newspaper. Stafford smiled lazily at the daffodils and thought first CT what Curtis would say, and second, of how the sunlight had danced and fiickered around a certain girls blonde head, as she sat by the window taking notes.
 It was six weeks before he left Brakesmere. He had not noticed the time. It had been February when he had dropped over the stone wall. It was April before he wired the Record News he would be back at work Mon. day.
 Houghton went himself to the sta ton with him. The two men had passed many a comradely ten minutes together during Staftord's convales- cence, and it made things little ca sier for Stafford, as he told of Grace and the promise be held from her.
 It's all right, Tom," said Houghton. Nothing to say at all. I've got six of them married, and they've married everything from a broker to duke. I am inclined to compliment Grace on her choice. You ought to see the rest Of them, especially the duke. Hes taxing me for damages yet But about that interview, you left out one i'm portant feature. You wanted my views on the strike sitrad ton, didn't you, and you thoughtI was holding Bixby back on the arbitrationr
 Well, weren't you:" demanded Staff ford.
 My boy, that strike was arbtrated and settled and called off the night Grace ran you down with her auto. But you can hold up your head In town all the same. That was the only interview I gave out, and 1t clinched Bixby's stand. So I guess your dam ages are about settled. eh?"
 Stafford smiled, but he was thinking of a girl standing among the daffodils in +ha on rden har faca uDra aad to his