The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-09-01
CHAPTER 31. BEATRICE MAKES TROJJRIE

CHAPTER 31.
 BEATRICE MAKES TROUBLE
 You haven't made a muddle O. your life Sondra told John. "Yo, have got everything you can pos. sibly want"
 He let that pass and after z moment she broke out again.
 T don't know why you bothe, about IS at all. We're not you1 responsibility"
 T naturally feel an interes in Merriman, seeing that I sent him out. want to do the bes I can for him"
 Her mouth quivered, but she an. sWered bitterly. Tn sure I an very grateful to you-on his be- half"
 He leaned his arms on the table looking across at her with steady eyes.
 "Sondra, why do you persist in hurting me so? Can't you-can'i we both think a little of this poor fellow who is counting the moments till he sees you again Don't tets be cowardly."
 Her eyes flashed angrily. T don't know why you say we. it's noth- ing to do with you. I don't want you to carry my troubles. and any, way I am coward! It's the way I've bean brought up, I suppose. It's all very well for you to talk. You're free-but I wonder how you would like to be me-tied hand and foot to someone you don't care for?"
 Don't you think I've experience ed it? But I always tried not to forget that it was my own fault"
 q don't see how that helps," she said almost sullenly; she push ed back her chair and rose as Mrs. Merriman came hurrying back to them. "If she asks any more questions I shall scream" Sondra said half historically
 Mrs. Merriman was flushed and excited; the boat was sighted she said to Anderson in a trembling voice. She ignored Sondra. She sped away, pathetic, anxious figure, and Sondra and Anderson looked at one another silently.
 How she hates mel" Sondra said. Well, I don't care!" She picked up her coat. T suppose We must go-" but when he mov- ed she spoke his name, John"
 Yes"
 "If can't bear tiff I haven't got the courage?"
 You will have"
 She laughed miserably. You say that because you don't want me any more, suppose" she said fiercely. T suppose you'll marry somebody else and forget all about me"
 Anderson said nothing, but his face twisted into lines of pain. She made half movement to- wards him, then checked herself and together they went out again into the rain.
 All I can say it that you could have knocked me down with a feather Beatrice Taylor said em- phatically. She stirred the iced drink before her slowly, her sharp eyes on Stephen Cassidy's face.
 Beatrice did not like Cass, but there were occasions when she found him useful because he knew all the tid-bids of scandal which added so greatly to her interest in life.
 She had run into Cass in a res- taurant, and had invited herself to an iced drink.
 CaSS looked a little uncomfor- table: he was afraid of Beatrice, she had a disagreeable knack of making him say more than he in- tended to. He had tried to keep the conversation in ordinary chan nels, but she had skilfully led 1t round to the only subject that was interesting her at the mo- ment-Sondra's marriage.
 You could have knocked me down with a feather" she said 1 again, lifting the long spoon from i the glass and slipping the cool drink.
 T always thought that Sondra was waiting for MT. Anderson to get his freedom-we all thought | IN ii..oo4l,r l,i. ...is U