The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-06-06
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BY JESSIE DOUG 70. !.

i But when she joined the others in the back yard her very restleSsness seemed to permeate the air as though they all knew that some thing hung over them. Yet Aunt Elm was sewing as usual and Hal lie reading the paper. When Fran had put the children to bed she came back to them. The others Nora knew, had no inkling of what had happened. But Aunt Ems face looked drawn and odd tonight. Hallie had been rattling the paper in a nervous way and she began to read aloud in a dry husky voice:
 She came down the stairs that bright May morning, this girl with her heart-shaped face and honey -colored hair
 That's enough, Hallie," Aunt Elm said "It's that awful newspaper tripe," Fran said listlessly.
 The paper rattled in Hallie's hand; she stared about from one to the other. They looked up sur prised.
 q wrote it. 'Hallie mumbled.
 But that's not your name! A. A. Standish. Darling, why didn't you let us know about it?"
 T didn't even know it was taken until I saw it in the evening paper, Hallie said, color burning in her sallow cheeks. '"The story's per- feet drivel'
 T thought there was something unusual about it the moment heard it!' Aunt Elm said.
 They clustered about her crooked shoulders, excited, forgetting every thing but this moments triumph.
 Its awful rot" Hallie insisted, but her chin was trembling
 Nora read it through aloud while they hung on her words. Trite as it was, she had not been able to read through the love scene with out faltering. But they were not even looking at her or noticing the tremble of her voice.
 Its charmingt Aunt Elm glow ed
 How much do you think they'll pay you for it?" Fran asked breathlessly.
 Well, I don't know. Newspapers are so wealthy-probably $50. AL though you often hear of writers getting a thousand"
 But don't you see what it means? It means Hallie can get anything she writes accepted. Oh Hallie, we sha'n't have to worry about money-oh Hallie, I can't believe it" Fran was crying.
 Aunt Elm plunged into plans. Would they get new curtains for the back parlor or some rose bushes?
 Hallie said modestly, Well, I thought we might take a little place in the country Not too far away so that it would be near a good school and the children would love a garden"
 Fran's eyes were full of unshed tears.
 q told you we'd be rich in Au- gust!" Aunt Elm said, and you laughed at me, remember. We must tell this to Fergus. Nora, you run in and get him. How pleased Julian will be! He was telling me about his pictures. He thinks they will all sell. He said he'd never touch brush again"
 Nora put her arm about Fran and at the light touch Fran looked up. She caught her hand and laid it against her dry burning cheek.
 There is way out!" Frances whispered.
 But when Nora went to look for Fergus he was gone. She met her father coming up the steps, and cried gayly:
 "Tve been having dinner with Jon. He's fine young fellow, my girl. I tell you our fortune is made!"
 It was true as Fran said, they had found the way out. Nora was exultant. Now Fran could go away She would come back quite well. And Nora could leave them all knowing that they were happy at last.
 In the morning when she woke a fretful rain beat against the win dows. She and Fran fingered until the last moment so that they could wait for the postman. There was a letter for Hallie from the Evening Press. Hallie tore it open with trembling fingers. Inside was check for five dollars.
 They all knew now that Fran had to go away to a sanitorium in the mountains. Don't you envy me-" Frances | smiled. "escaping this August heat