The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-10-14
ChaDter 13
JUST ONE KISS

supposed, at one time, to have held the body of queen, she re- marked tentatively.
 a"How did you make out tonight, Ray?"
 His tone was casual.
 q lost 20 pounds. That's about $1O0. isn't it?"
 She rolled around to face him. A shaft of moonlight stole in through the window, up the bed,
 and surrounded her face like halo. It was troubled.
 I'm sorry. I'll give you the notes in the morning."
 q told you I would pay my own gambling debts"
 But, Ray, you haven't the mon ey."
 I'll find it-somehow. may win it back tomorrow.
 ;, Barbara sighed and they lay si- lent. She was beginning to learn that in such a mood it was useless to argue with him. She made little movement with her hand to reach across and touch his hair, but just then he broke the si- lence.
 "You and Henderson seemed to have a good deal to say to each other tonight. You were out of the room for the greater part of the evening"
 "He was showing me over the house.
 "Eyidently he didn't think that would be sufficiently interested or he might have waited until l could have gone along with you"
 His tone rattled her.
 "You can't blame him for that. I must say your enthusiasm for his ploce hasn't been particularly mo- ticeable!'
 No But, at least, he might have given me the opportunity, in stead of taking you off alone ;
 "Oh, Ray" she interrupted him Don't be small and narrow mind ed.'
 A pause.
 q see. won't trouble you with it again. Good night"
 She waited moment, long mo- ment, it may have been minutes hoping he would say something further. But he did not. He lay motionless on the opposite edge oi the bed. There was a noticeable space between them. It hurt Bar bara-that space.
 She sighed once, twice, mere audibly the second time. Still he made no movement and SC presently, being tired out, her lids closed over her eyes, leaving suspicious moisture where hel lashes curved onto her cheeks.
 The next day, at the return game, Ray played, if possible, even worse and this time when he rose from the table, he mad doubled his debt to the major He gave the older man an I. O. U. payable five days from then, the day they were scheduled to leave.
 During tea Ray seemed preoccu- pied, and Barbara noticed with a certain secret misgiving that the air of restlessness about him had increased. ..o.. ais
 Afterwards he rose abruptly, an nounced that he intended taking 2 stroll and left the room. Outside, he paused only to inquire the way of the butler before setting out at quick pace in the direction oi the nearest postoffice, from where he sent off an urgent telegram to London. Nsr.
 The hunt turned corner ano swooped down the valley, the hounds racing ahead the horses behind. their glossy bodies taut and quivering as they proudly bore the huntsmen, glimmer of scarlet black capped, in the struggling morning sunshine.
 well have him soon,' cried Ma for Perkins as he pointed to where on the next rise, the fox could De seen, a brown streak.
 we should be on him before he takes cover in the Hammond scrub, cried Laring, young fellow who had joined the house party the previous night. "Jove! that Mrs. Lowther is splendid horsewom- an!" he exclaimed as Barbara and Henderson shot by them.
 Barbara, stunning in her trim khaki riding kit with a hard felt hat crushed down over her hair that gleamer pure copper in the sunshine, was glorying in the ex- citement of the chase. She loved riding, especially over the green english fields, but all the same she wished it had been Ray in- stead of Henderson riding by her side.
 The night before, after their host had spoken of the proposed hunt, Ray had remarked
 Damn it all, Barbara. l can ' ,o haven't a riding outfit"
 you could have ordered one