The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-10-08
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woman dressed in the color that of all others most suited her.
 T have sent my report to your matron," he began.
 Yes, I suppose you have.Y
 50 there's no point in our dis cussing your derehction of duty It's the rest of the mixup that I've come about. Orannock knows you as-as a friend, but not as the nurse who-not as a nurse. Is that it?"
 She looked at him steadily.
 Wont you sit down?"
 No thank you. I won't sit down. You'll understand me perfec y when I say that I should not have come here to see you if I had thought I had any choice"
 Ut is natural that you should feel that way" agreed Hallie. But I want to tell you, even if you don't believe it, that I feel-brand- cd. I shall feel branded all my life. Whatever happens"
 What d'you mean? What can happen? That's any good to Gran neck, I mean? You're evidently the girl Grannock met and talked to on the cliff-the girl he couldn't see and whose name he didn't ask" He heard his voice drop to a snarl and did not care. And you think you can keep that up with him?"
 Yes. With your help"
 Act the unseen angel of mercy, eh?-to make up for having blinded him! Very pretty. Perhaps it would be best if you'd give me the facts of your-your association with Les ter Broom. That seems to be the kernel of the whole situation"
 T met Lester in New York about three months ago, she said. T fell in love with him at once or thought l did; and he fell in love with me. I believe he really does love me still, as much as he could love any one"
 Lytton remained silent.
 He told me, after a while, that he couldn't marry me, unless his brother approved of me. And be- cause my family history is rather obscure-he didn't seem to think that his brother would approve of me So it was settled that I should spend my months vacation here and try to get to know his brother independently. I see now that it wasn't a nice way to behave, but
 -
 Again she stopped.
 When Mir Grannock and I did make friends with each other it was by pure chance" she went on presently. T imagine he told you about the long talk we had on the cliff?"
 Yes"
 'It was a wonderful talk. A won derful time . When he had gone and Lester told me who he was and congratulated me, I felt as though were being dragged out of dream. A dream of heaven. And then when the matron wrote to me that I was to report to you as the nurse selected for MT. Gran nock's case"
 You took good care not to in form me that you were intimately acquainted with Lester Broom. I imagined from your matrons let ter that it was some other branch of the family that knew you"
 You didn't inform me that my matron had written anything spe- cial about me at all, returned Hal lie, with a flash of spirit. Please understand that I ddint ask Les ter to wheedle her into recommend ing me for the case I didn't know he'd seen her until he told me last night
 Lytton took a turn up and down the room. Some of his hostility was melting away; he knew it. Her story had challenged his hatred and contempt.
 But then-thenl It all came back to that "dereliction of duty" which Lytton was determined not to re- open. She had left her patient. who was also the man of her spirit choosing. A double treachery.
 Well, that may all be true or it may not" said Lytton harshly. My concern now is with the next few days. Strange as it may seem to you. you will not receive help from me in any prolonged deception of Grannock. He has been fooled enough. But"
 Have you told him that This friend of the cliff-am Nurse Elles- more?" she interrupted him.