The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-22
DAESON

Get this into your thick head Surreptitiously she shortened the distance that separated them. You are not Dicky Dicky and flew apart because we were never real ly married"
 "As much married as you and IT," he insisted. More so, if it comes to that Bridesmaids. mu- sic. No back history You're a matrimonial Houdini--that's where you have me at a disadvantage. married to stay marrieda you've had experience in escaping. Any time I stick up for my rights, as I did yesterday. you can put me where you want me by threaten ing to repeat the disappearing act. 5
 But I won't-never again. I promiseT s
 She had wriggled her way to his knees till she leaned against them. His aloofness was melting. He was sinking under her spell.
 You think you won't, Santa. But how can I be sure? Your home training was bad. I'll nev- CT become a yes-artist like your father"
 She shook his hand that was nearest and began to toy with it.. folding and unfolding the fingers.
 T wouldn't stay with you an hour, if you were
 He chuckled.
 And yet a yes-artist's what you're trying to make me"
 Hiring this apartment she ac- cused herself. Furnishing it with things that belonged to me and not to us."
 And tagging after your divorced husband" he added to the indict ment
 "Is that fafr?" She glanced up quickly. q didn't tag after him"
 Tt isn't" He bent over her, pressing his cheek against hers He stole back into your life by a series of accidents. If I'd been willing to talk about him"
 She seized the excuse
 Not talking about him made him a guilty secret
 And guilty secrets lead to de- ception," Give helped her.
 Not to deception" she fum- bled, ito something that you con- strued as deception. When you discovered that he was the person who was anxious to employ you, of course it looked-''
 He jerked her. She raised her. self, staring at him in fascination.
 What do we care how it look ed?" His voice was husky From tonight everything's going to be not me or you but us"
 Intoxication followed.
 50 happy" she sighed
 Later in bed, watching him un- dress she asked. Why did you let Dicky entertain me?"
 He paused in the removal of his studs.
 You won't be angry?"
 Of course not"
 You won't be hurt?'
 Honest"
 Because I thought he and l were in the same boat--a pair of discards. It made me sympathet- ic."
 She stretched out her arms
 Come here, imbecile."
 Nearly suffocated, he splutter- ed.
 Most married couples are im- beciles,' I guess" Next morning came reaction. He gazed at the sweet flushed face It was extraordinary how much younger Santa looked in bed than in her clothes. She became inn mature-angelic. The artifices she employed to improve her appear ance disguised her. Speech spoil ed her.
 Asleep, when she couldn't inter. fere with herself, she was at hel best. And this ethereal creature fragile, holy, was the antagonis he had chosen with whom to ban i dy words.
 ] Taunts hurled in the heat O combat recoiled to wound him Matrimonial Houdini His steel ascent to Heaven! Any reproacl addressed by man to woman was at least twice as offensive a the same reproach addressed b a woman to a man.
 He heard again his rapier-lik thrusts; on what grounds had sh won her divorce. He saw himsel cold and torturing-the just per son, the inquisitor, the Frencl comedy cariacture of a husband His detestation of the role wa overwhelming. The ignominy 0 contending with a woman! And tn