The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-07-30
DAG G E R
 bv Mary DahAberg

warming, and Dagger promptly dismissed the uneasiness she had derived from Mrs. Vaneering's re- csption of her. We wish to do everything we can, you know, to atone for your losing Jack so soon It seems very unfair to you"
 "Oh, but I wouldn't have him atay at home for anything,r pro- tested Dagger.
 You want your husband to go to France?" he queried,, Certainly. Any wife would feel the same in the circumstances"
 No, my dear, not any wife, he corrected. And permit me to eau ton you not to discuss this topic with Jacks mother"
 Once more Dagger's heart fell. It was dismaying to encounter a mother-in-law who appeared to hold such radically different views on the fundamentals of life.
 I'll do all I can to please Mrs. Vaneering," she answered. T want her to love me"
 I'm sure she will, Alexandra, !" MT Vaneering assured her-but without conviction. And while we are on the subject, perhaps you dent know that Jacks transport sails tomorrow night?"
 Dagger gasped.
 We hadn't expected 1t would be 50 soon"
 T thought you should know at once he said regretfully. Come, my dear, we'll find the car, and carry you home. You are tired, and you must have a chance to rest, for we have had to ask number Of relatives and intimates of the family to dinner tonight to meet you. You see, Jacks time is So short. This is the one opportunity Of presenting you as a couple"
 Dagger's head was in a whirl. Events had come fast in the last few weeks. Presently they were crawling through the traffic of Fcrty-third Street, and Dagger was made oonscious of the city's over pow eGing mass. She was relieved when the car halted in front of a wide brognstcne house facing Gen. tral Park; the vista of lawns and trees pretended to at least a sen- blance of independence of the sur rounding hulks of steel and stone.
 We are putting you in your old rooms, Jack" said his mother One of the guest rooms has been thrown in with it. I hope ycu and Alexandra will find it comfortable. :"
 Bewildered and more disposed to loneliness than she had besn yet, Dagger followed Jack in silence through a door at the end of the hall; but bewilderment and lone Illness faded when he took her in his arms
 Tt all seems very new, doesn't it, honey?" he murmured in her ear. But remember, this is home to you just as much as to me"
 You are going tomorrow night, " she exclaimed, with a little catch in her voice.
 Well, we've got tonight and to- morrow" he reassured her. Kiss mel Againl Againl Now, what d'you want to do first?"
 She dressed with precise care. Her brown hair was parted in the middle and knotted flatly behind her small, shapely head. Her ivory brown skin was guiltless of rouge. Her frcck, was beige, cut simply and not very low.
 When Jack burst in upon her again he caught her in his arms and hugged her until she begged { for mercy. He was more loving more appreciatiye, than he had ever been, she thought walking downstairs, and into the drawing room beside him.
 His pride in her went far to miti- gate the strain of introductions tc i a dozen guests, all relatives or fam fly friends, whose names were rep resentative of the best known ele- ments in New York society; hard featured women, beautifully gown ed, off-hand in manner; sleek, we'll groomed men.
 One or two attempts to patronizt her she squelched. quietly, and ther the men, discovering that she coulc talk intelligently. and knew how to handle herself, combined to en. courage her. The women, on tht contrary, couldn't quite forgive hel youth and differentness. Kitty alone, was bluntly friendly
 T like you, Alix," she callec across the table. There isn't woman here who wouldn't talk he head off if she had flown an air plane
 I Jack spoke:
 Tt won't be long now. befor