The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-07-29
DAG ER
 bv Mary DahIberg

1 yew wore, comin' like a thorough bred three -year-old. I'd bet money yew'd turn out good as any boy. But yew git to be a reglar gal, and then what happens? Trouble aplentyl"
 Dagger scowled thoughtfully, and threw in her clutch. .yShe was re- minded inevitably of Howard-and she didn't like it. But honest as usual, she refused to blink the fact.
 You mean Blaine, don't you?" she said .crtly. Tt all began with that. But there's no use going over | 1t. I'm just like other women, guess, Uncle Jim Her uncle regarded her slantwise with an effect of consternation that drew an involuntary smile to her lips.
 "Oh, don't take it so hard" she treasured him, one hand betting his gnarled knee. After all, I've got my life to live, haven't I? Tiff I lost Blaine, is that a reson to give up the rest of my life to a memory?"
 Jim Marley grunted noncommit- tally.
 Tell yew later" was his sole re- 1 ply.
 The plain truth was that he dis liked Vaneering from sight. Jack met him with a hearty courtesy, just the right admiXture of respect for an older man. But Marley s greeting was stiff, and the ranch mans air became stiffer in the course of conversation.
 Funny old coot," was Jacks con- fidential observation. Might have stepped out of a western picture How many notches has he got or his gum"
 "A buttful," Dagger answered coldly. No man on the Border has done more for Texas, Jack-and cur name stands for as much here as yours does in New York"
 Jack pecked a nasty kiss at her
 Easy, old lady" he admonished q didn't mean anything critical Matter of fact I could like him il he'd let me. But he won't
 Nc Dagger responded slowly T reckon he won't
 She was thinking of her last pri- vate words with her uncle.
 Thar ain't no use talkin, Dag ger" he had said stubbornly. "The feller aint right. I don't like the look of his eyes. Seen it often 1T rarin' colt, the kind Dick nevel could git to foller his knee" Her head had gone up proudly.
 Hes my husband, Uncle Jim And you're the first to speak agains 1 him.
 Jim Marley's eyelids twitehed
 Reckon you got a right to holt I spoke cut of turn" he acknowl edged. But all the same, I'm yor, menfolks, honey, and I'd be pul if I didn't tell yew what I though honest. All kin say is: I'm hunch in for yew, and Casa Blancas yor, home when yew want it." He gulpet hard. His, too,' he added, with al effort that was comical.
 So Uncle Jim had gone back t, Casa Blanca, after an acrimoniou debate with Aunt Espy-so acri monious as to be funny-and sev eral ceremonious encounters witt Jack who saw the last of the rancl man with pardonable satisfaction
 Thank God, that's over," he re marked. If mothers as difficul with you. we'll be quits
 And Dagger couldn't find it il her heart to blame him, althougl she soon had reason to recall he uncle's misgivings. For Jack, sh discovered, could never say no ol a party. It wasn't exactly a neN discovery to be sure. She had bee annoyed by his tendency to drin too much ever since she ha known him, had urged with him O occasions and accepted repentan pledges to better conduct.
 But it took conjugal intimacy t make her realize the precise exter of his drinking, and the realizatio wasn't conducive to happiness, not withstanding she tried to consol herself with the reflection that was hardly fair to judge him in th circumstances, when practically a their friends were rallying to mak memorable their last days in Sa Antonio.
 Breakfasts, luncheons, teas, dir ners, dances, suppers followed or another in dizzying succession. an the seanty period before Jack travel-order went into effect WI gone before they knew it.
 With sinking, sickly feeling, sf awoke one morning to grasp u