The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-11-13

Ike portrait or Ray. one Sdneu at it almost with resentment.
 Her reflection was interrupted by the opening of the door. Turn ing quickly, she found herself star ing into the face of white. de- termined- looking girl an odd, child ish dignity enveloping her As Rita looked at Rays wife her own face blanched with dismay.
 You You . might have guessed it' Rita gasped.
 Barbara gazed back in amaze ment. The naughty words she had intended to say died on her lips.
 Instead, she said wonderingly. You know me?"
 Sure. :" Rita swallowed twice. And l used to feel so sorry flor you, each evening sitting so for lorn looking in the little booth -"
 "You-you saw me at the club?"
 Saw you? I should say I did. l watched for you each evening when came on to do my turn, hoping that night that you'd be laughing and happy looking. You see thought you so pretty, yet you seemed sad" she broke off, and added, wry twist to her lips: "All the time I guess you came just to get glimpse of Ray"
 Barbara was scarlet. The situa- tion had been taken entirely out of her hands. Somehow everything was as it shouldn't be. Not true to form at all. She found herself liking instead of hating this girl before her. She couldn't bring herself to resent her words. Instead the genuine sympathy in Rita's voice made tears find their way to her own eyes. For the mo- ment she could think of nothing to say.
 Rita went on speaking, as though to herself, her voice husky T should have known something like this would happen :. I told my self I was crazy to come here at all. But it upsets my calculations to find htat the other fellows you.
 I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about" said Barbara.
 Course you don't You'd have to be a mindreader, and. if you were. you wouldn't have let Ray go in the first placep
 ] But at this Barbara tried to. whip her pride together.
 IT didn't let him go,p stiffly. "He went"
 Rita shrugged wearily. He went because you never tried i, to understand him" That Barbara felt, she couldn't i, stand for.
 "That seems to be beside the point. You know, of course, that : I'm divorcing Ray. am arranging z it so that there will be little pub- . licity and no scandal. You--you
 won't be brought into it at all.' IT Rita's big brown eyes lighted up :, with astonishment.
 Why in heavens name, should
 be?"
 ,l Barbara turned quick red. She 'f floundered.
 d 'But--but I should have thought
 ... ;. You surely know $. I have a perfect right o In two quick strides Rita was by a her side, looking down fiercely into :, her face.
 You think-who put that charit- ', able thought into your head?" e Surely you're not going to deny '. Ritas hands fell to her sides. She "a spoke cooly.
 "A lie like that isn't worth deny- <, ing |. .. But guess it's not alto = gether your fault. But it seems o you had the whole situation dopet a out on too conventional lines-bad ,a designing cabaret dancer |" 'e T didn't think thatl" Barbars d cried impulsively. "At least-no
 after I'd seen you. thought you T. must be in love with one another. r Rita's face softened. W .,, You're not so bad. You're righ about that. Ray wants to marr, a me"
 .p Barbara stood very still. ,d "Is that what you have come her, '. . to tell me?"
 ,t Not altogether. At least it wa 1, in the first place, but now I've ;
 mind to tell you something else ,,, Ray is still in love with you" ,r Copyright, Dial Press)
 A wife, and the other wo-
 man" team forces. Continue
 with tomorrow's installment. l ATTENTION