The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-02-03
hu RMth OoA4.

Ithat everybody was gone-presum- ably back to New York.
 One morning some weeks after the eventful night on which Glenn had saved his reservoir but so nearly lost the woman he loved Anne opened her eyes, sane and Iolear of fever for the first time, into his. For some moments they looked at one another in silence.
 Anne reached out and touched his hand where it lay on the edge of the coverlet - questioningly. "You are safe-?' she said.
 "Of course" He let his other hand close reassuringly over hers but not too vigorously. Her reality seemed still uncertain and elusive.
 "All this time-1 couldn't quite be sure" For the first time, her eyes left his, went wandering over the room in puzzled silence. Then, q did go away-you told me to go away and-I went"
 Glenn nodded Yes, you went away, butt brought you back. Now--I hope you're going to want to stay"
 Tt was strange" Anne's mind was groping back slowly and pain fullyalong unused paths to that last tense scene which was burned indelibly into her memory. T thought I heard you step-outside on the stones I was just fight ing for time-thinking every mo- ment surely you would come-I don't know what kind of a story did make up to tell him" | "It wasn't true then-the story?" Glenn carried her hand to his lips, buried his face for moment against it. It was very difficult to keep his voice steady and-cas- lual
 "Of course not she laughed a little. T had to tell him some thing, didn't I?'
 "Of course you did"
 But it was queer" her mind labored back again to the thing that puzzled her, T was positive I heard your step outside, and I said to myself that I knew you would come when I needed you so much II felt as if I couldn't possibly hold out another moment-and then--but must have been mis- taken---it wasn't you-it wasn't any bodyl"
 Glenn fought down the impulse to throw himself on the floor be- side her, to tell her that she had not been mistaken, that he had failed her, that he had been blind, stupid, brutal-that he did not de- serve her love, her loyalty.
 And then" she went on, lifting herself little in the pillows, T saw my old sweater on the couch, and"
 Glenn leaned over her, his heart beating painfully. And then-?" he encouraged gently. q pretended had fainted-I didn't have to pretend muchl" Her mouth twisted in the derisive little smile he knew so well.
 ,"Of course not, with your arm," he said quietly.
 He laid me on the couch, and got the revolver out of the sweat CT pocket and drove him out of the room. And-oh, yes, bolted the door of course. That's all I seem to remember" Her brows con- tracted in a puzzled frown. Glenn had fallen on his knees beside her; he was covering her hands, her arms to the elbows. with kisses. Don't try to remember any more" he said in voice that choked a little, "the rest doesn't matter" More had, after all, told him the truth.
 "I suppose" Anne said, they're all back in New York now--Leon, MT. Douglas, my aunt of course"
 Probably" Glenn assented.
 A silence fell between tn e m. Finally he laid one arm about her shoulders. You're not-just the least bit-sorry?" he asked.
 She lifted her eyes to his. "Yes sorry l didn't come years ago. to you" she whispered back, not very steadily.
 Copyright, Ruth Cross)