The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-01-20
Chapter 19 A MARITAL BARGAIN


 A glance in the mirror as she dressed for dinner convinced Anne that the tell tale marks of her en- colnter with the bramble bushes that afternoon could not be re- moved through any amount oi magic. So when she belatedly ap- peared at the dinner table to join Morse, her aunt and Douglas, it was with an air of resignation she dreaded explanations, but saw no escape.
 She strove adroitly to keep the conversation in safe channels after fhe inevitable comment at her r,1arred beauty from her aunt and Morse's frown. But her aunt was not to be constrained and demanded details.
 Realizing it would only excite further suspicion if she did not eornplv. Anne sketched a lively, carefully edited account of her ad- venture in the woods, but made no mention of Glenn.
 When she had finished, Douglas, who was sitting immediately oppo- site. looked up, the knowing smile still curling his lips. But she hasn't told you the most interest ing part of the story. he declared. dYou've no idea what an excellent doctor she had!
 fN
 There was 4 moments s44encc' then. "Doctor-who's been having a doctor?" Mrs. Wilmet was a tfifle hard of hearing, but she felt the sudden acute tension in the air.
 Morse had glanced quickly at Anne whose eyes were fixed un- waveringly on Douglas.
 4It was the merest accident, Douglas went on with every ap- pearance of ingenious good hu- nor. his gaze meeting Anne's stead ilv. T was out for few hours shooting this afternoon, and I stumbled on the most romantic little scene imaginable. I won't go into details, but II must warn you again, Miss Anne" this with 8 most convincing assumption of friendly raillery, "it's dangerous flirting with the captain in the enemy's campl"
 Without actually looking at him, Anne saw the dark flush that mounted slowly in Morse's face, saw her aunt's sudden flash of comprehension and-cold anger.
 Douglas, alone seemed placidly unconscious that he had said or done anything out of the ordinary. He went on eating his dinner quite as if nothing had happened. Just as the tension was growing unbear- able, Jarvis murmured something to the master of the house, and Morse left the room.
 Anne lifted her eyes to Douglas, who was still deyoting himself srninngly to his dinner, and con- sidered him thoughtfully for a rather prolonged interval her enemy had scored. Finally, she asked casually her eyebrows slightly elevated--"Were you quite through?'
 He looked up and bowed as pro- foundly as his sitting posture ad- n1itted of. Quite"
 At this juncture, Jarvis reap peared and approached the at torney. Douglas also rose, excused himself with painstaking polite ness and went towards the living room. Anne and her aunt were. left alone-faeing each other in a ter rible sort of silence, worse than any speech.
 Mrs Wilmot was the first tc speak. T knew all along-f there was another man within hundrec 1niies-you would ruin everything.
 Anne merely bent her head without making any answer at all After a while, her aunt rose, heav' fly. She looked mortally stricken Supporting herself with one ifs clenehed against the table edge she added slowly and with bitter iilcisiveness, "Very we'll, I'm through with you--in the future, you car shift for yourself"
 sfsYes, you told me that before, Anne said tonelessly.
 AsWell, I mean it." The olde woman struck her plump. whit. fist emphatically against the table sYou can get out-I never want tt zee or hear of you again"
 -esBut suppose" Anne said, reflec lively, suppose haven't ruinet everything
 Her aunt's only answer to tha was a sardonic grunt. She turnet and moved slowly towards the door walking with heavy labored tread
 Anne watched until the doubl doors had swung to behind her sat on for some moments chin il palms. staring straight ahead o her at nothing. She got, up a