The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-09-16
KSM0MeAS
eY NATALIE sUMNEA LIHC0L1

GylilS DdCh Oll llCi plllONo, GlSs watched the nurse cross the lawi and head for the back of tn, house. She was a big woman, bu in spite of her height she was ex ceedingly quick in all her move. ments. This time, however, Mis- Kline walked with slow and plod ding steps and there was notice. able stoop to her shoulders. Elss swung the chair to the right, anc continued wheeling it along, care. less of the route she took, hel only desire to get away from hel thoughts. She stopped almost as abruptly as she had started as the chair brought up against the gate leading from the foot path to the broad highway.
 Suddenly a voice almost in hel ear caused her to start violently and the color drained from hel cheeks at sight of blond woman in blue standing just inside the gate.
 The newcomer watched her with a cynical smile.
 Well, well, here we are againP ] the newcomer exclaimed. "Anc that nurse of yours said you were too i'll to come out of doors"
 Elsa summoned a strained smile; it was the best she could muster
 Tt is nice of you to be so soli- citous about my health,' she said softly you, total stranger
 The woman eyed her curiously then from her bag took out a not overclesn visiting card.
 Since you insist on formalities. The sheer was apparent. Here you are. Can you reciprocate?"
 Without answering, Elsa glanced at the card thrust almost under hel nose-Mrs. Ben Lawrence, so rar the engraved script-but the care was withdrawn and replaced in the woman's handbag before she coulc decipher the scrawled address in tht left corner.
 T am sorry, Mrs. Lawrence" be- gan Elsa, but your name convey! nothing to me ."
 Then why have you avoided meeting me?' broke in the other What are you afraid of, if you don't know me?' and her eyes bored into Elsa.
 Elsa shrugged her shoulders "You are pleased to be mysterious, sht letorted T was never good al oonundrums. Why not,' raising clear eyes to the ones scowline down at her, speak in plain United States?"
 Mrs, Lawrence indulged in { sneering Hal" Then with a leer
 Where's your visiting card, Nils. Elsa Chaser
 Aii'C llOAiC Wlltl lIlts E1lod lG- piled patiently. If you have any. thing to say to me, please say it; it is growing colder and cannot remain here much longer
 And you don't want to invite me into the house." swiftly. well suppose I make a date with MT Winslow; he" with peculiar em- phasis, wants to see me-
 Well, pray see him and gratify his curiosity" retorted Elsa, losing all patience. Frankly, Mrs Law renee, I am tired of innuendoes You have uttered yelled threats or the two occasions I have seen you now, what is it?"
 You want a showdown?" The woman's blue-green eyes gleameo oddly. She moved forward so that Elsa could look directly at her with out having to turn her head anc took off her felt hat; then, with a movement both swift and stealthy she lifted her blond wig, disclosing a hideous scar which crossed the top of her forehead where the hail would naturally have grown.
 Elsa shrank back against her pill lows as a vision rose before her oi a prone figure on bed in a small white washed room; room spot lessly clean, yet with menacing bars in the one window; face or the pillow swathed in bandages and the hideous scar a disfiguring blot in contrast to the white linen
 Mrs. Lawrence's voice in her ear sounded far off; only gradually did she sense what the woman was saying
 Come across sister" and Mrs Lawrence stood looking down at Elsa, her felt hat and wig once more in place It's easier to pay 1 the price than doin' a term in the pen" she muttered coarsely.
 Elsa fumbled in the mesh bag which she had dropped in the in- side pocket of her fur coat instead of returning it to it's usual hiding