The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-08-01


 Wen have a talk about 'em later Now, suspect you have job to do And by the way who are you?"
 Mrs. John Vaneering, my lord, daughter-in-law of your hostess. If you'll come with me"
 And she led Dick to the receiving line, where Mrs Vaneering stood, rerplexed and glowering-uncertain whether the scene provided social capital or the reverse.
 I'm so sorry" Dagger said in her most. contrite manner. This is Lord Wenlock-only didn't know he was Lord Wenlock until just now. l thought he was Dick Welling, who lived with Uncle Jim until a year ago. But somehow or other he's gotten to be-Well, what he is" She smiled at her mother in-law. Please forgive me. It isn't every day you meet the man who made himself your substitute father is it?"
 Really, Alexandra! I had no idea, Lord Wenlock-"
 Nor l." Dick interrupted gently, This war has torn so many of us free from our roots. Up to a year back, Dagger was the same as a daughter to me. I worked for her uncle, y'know-fancy I might claim to have known her from babyhood.1 ' A wicked twinkle came in his eyes. "Yes, ma am, I can recall a time her uncle and matched to see which of us should spank her"
 Mrs. Vaneering's lips frightened.
 Most interesting she murmur- ed in the strangled tones which Dagger had learned indicated an effort to restrain her temper An ,an extraordinary coincidence. But -ah-perhaps we may offer you a cup Of tea. Lord Wenlock? And our guests-they are looking for ward to meeting you"
 For Dagger the rest of the re- caption was a dream. She saw noth- ing of Dick to be sure; but the other guests swarmed around her, begging for information about him. How had he lost his arm? Oh he'd been the famous polo player And how had she happened to meet him? A horse trainerl How odd! But these Englishmen of the no- bility were capable of anything ec- centric.
 Meantime, Dick, sizing up Mrs. Vaneering, had wasted no opportun- ity to pour into her ears the worth of Dagger and the eminence of the Marley name.
 He recounted the square miles they owned. and had owned; the porte they had played in the wars of the Lone Star Republic; the.r exploits of the Civil War; Uncle Jim's career with the six-gun-this last topic he developed quite malici- ously when he discovered how it perturbed her.
 Later, MT. Vaneering came in, and pleased Dick by his evident af- lection for his daughter -in-law. Except for the "Old Dragon" as he mentally christened Mrs. Va neering, Dick was satisfied with her new family's attitude toward Dag ger; and he continued unremit- tingly his intention to convince that lady that in the eyes of the Earl of Wenlock-who was likewise Viscount Yelling and Baron Stive- ly, in the Peerage of England Dagger was about the grandest per son in the world
 She and her husband must visit me at Wenlock," he declared, just as soon as the war is over We'll do bit of huntin, play polo, too, Ever see Dagger play polo, Mrs. Vaneering? She'd rate a four goal handicap on any list I had the ihakin of"
 Mrs. Vaneering writhed at every mention of the name Dagger, but she couldn't help being impressed by his interest in her daughter -in- law Nor could she very well ob- ject when he said, on taking his leave:
 "A delightful afternoon. No, thanks, I can't come back to dinner. Matter of fact, I'm taking Dagger down to the Ritz for a long talk. Want to get her to myself for a while"
 Outside Dick dismissed his own entourage.
 Go off and play, you chaps. I'll be busy" And to the chief of police escort charged with his shepherding: Just forget about me, sergeant. I'm going to be un- official. No, thanks, I'll catch plain taxi. Come on, Dagger"
 At the Ritz they dined comfort ably in Dicks suite, talking leisure ly of all that had happened Dag