The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-09-30

It was, Ndil UIlOuSIlV Wltll dAdl III -
 ed dismay, very completely a grandparents room, and very cer- tainly not hers. She felt an abash- ed sense of being an intruder as she skirted the dressing table to reach the large window.
 Ones first instinct in a strange room is to see what lies beyond it. Nan looked out and saw a wet green lawn. The lilac bushes that edged and bent in the wind. Overhead the heavy clouds drove across the sky. She could not see the sea, but she thought that she could hear it. The room stood at the corner of the house. Perhaps the other window looked on the sea. But when she reached it., though the sound was louder, the sea was still hidden.
 The view from this side of the house showed paved terrace, then falling ground-at first grass with some flower beds. then shrubs irregularly planted. and finally steep fall towards what looked like a ravine. To the left kind of bluff or knoll covered with trees hid the sea. Nan felt sure that it hid the sea. She could hear the sound of waves against the cliff. She felt great desire to go out into the rain and wind. Instead she washed fer hands, looked at herself in the large mirror, and went down to tea.
 There was to be tea in the li- brary. She came into the hall and tried three doors before she found the right one the dining room, fun of enormous mohagany furni- ture; the drawing room, long, un- used and breathing faint, ghostly camphor, lavender, and the smell of old calendered chintzes; the third room, a small comfortable place with books, shabby old chairs, and writing table.
 She found the library next to it, a pleasant room looking to the ravine, and Jervis sitting in the window with the largest dog she had ever seen standing gravely be- side him. He had head like a lion, and he was lion-colored. He turned deep amber eyes on Nan and came padding to meet her. She put out a hand. He slid his head under it and sniffed her skirt.
 You're not afraid of dogs said Jervis.
 Nan threw him an indignant look.
 No. Whats his name?"
 Bran. Tell him to shake hands with you"
 Nan looked down into the am- Der eyes.
 Bran, shake hands" she said, and was aware of Jervis watching her quizzically.
 She took her hand from Bran's head as she spoke and held it out. Immediately the huge mouth op- ened, her hand was taken gently but firmly and shaken from side to side. She felt the pressure of the great teeth. but it was @ pressure which would not have broken an egg-shell. Then her hand was dropped and the velvet sofe muzzle moved across it with a caressing touch.
 Jervis came over to them.
 You are free of Bran's affec- tions," he said gravely. He only shaked hands with people he likes very much
 Just for an instant Nan would have given everything she had in the world to know whether Rosa mund was one of the people with whom Bran shook hands. The feel ing was so irrational and so strong that it brought the blood to her cheeks. She walked to the win dow, Jervis beside her.
 "Is the sea behind that bluff?-
 sYes."
 T thought it was-I thought could hear it."
 You might today, but as a rule you'd hear the fall The stream comes down that cleft and takes magnificent dive just through ther" He pointed as he spoke. The fall is one of our sights. It will be worth seeing tomorrow af- ter the rain."
 The door opened, and Monk en- tered, bearing pontifically a large silver tray upon which, in ordered state, stood a massive and hid eous tea service. A tall, pale youth followed with a cake stand. In a hushed tone, Monk issued orders The tall youth, looking scared to death, set down the cake stand with a chatter.
 It all looked so safe, Nan thought, as she poured the tea But was it? She saw the face oi Leonard in the polished tea pol