The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-02-24
SUNSET PASS
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He was received almost with open arms
 The PreStons got in early. True, Thiry has been in half a dozen times" said Winter. Asked for you every time"
 @Sol, you lyin' old geezer"
 @She came an went" Sol went on, till the last time, little while ago, when she was with Amy Then you bet she didn't ask about you. He! FIe Hel |. . I'll bet you mil lion Amy got in some good licks. :"
 "Sol, you can laugh about thatr' calculated Rock, with a groan.
 Rock rushed out to the door, where through the window he had espied Thiry Preston. The action brought him right in front of T7hiry
 Why, hello" he said, forcing pleasant surprise to hide his rap ture. as he doffed his sombrero
 She greeted him shyly, with ab- ssnse of inhibited expression which marked her meetings with him at Sunset Pass.
 We started at daybreak yester- day morning" she said
 "Oh, Ash stayed home
 She spoke this as if it was m afterthought, scarcely important.
 That SOP" replied Rock, with conJtraint, though he tingled. Well, it's too bad, if you're dis appointed"
 I'm so greatly relieved IT don't know myself she replied, with un- expected candor. T don't remem- Der a Fourth that Ash hasn't spoiled by getting drunk"
 May I walk with you a step?" asls.i Rock, changing the subject. "Ycu may"
 5i.e lifted her head. Rock de- vcured her lovely face before he realized it had never worn such an expression for him. Doubt, dis dain, petulance.
 You're going to the dance" she said It was not question.
 Reckon I'll drop in for a peep" he replied, his heart giving symp- toms of pyrotechnics.
 Are you going to mask?"
 Sure. It wouldn't be fun other wise"
 Would you tell me what you'll wear?" she asked, sweetly-too sweetly not to be dangerous.
 "That'd spoil the fun. I sure want to fool you he protested.
 Have you not already fooled mel" she went on, with bitterness tingled with pathoS.
 T have not he shot at her, swift to speak his sudden passion It startled her.
 True Rock, you have great deal to disprove and more to prove she said, wide strange eyes on his
 MT. Rock she went on, "this dance was to be the first gay happy time for me-since grew up. Dad somehow prevented Ash from coming to town. He filled me with-with beliefs about how you would make it wonderful for me. -I dreamed myself into. no matter what. Then I come to town to have my ears filled to burning all day long. The dance was to be given for you You wouldn't even dance with any other woman but herl You were an old love renewing his VOWS! You"
 "Thiry, hushr 'interposed True man, in rage, despair and exalta- ton, all bewilderingly mingled.
 T trusted you and that wom an has killed it."
 "Oh, no, Thiry, don't say that"
 But there's a secret understand ing between you and her-for this dance
 Yes, there is. But it's not senti- ment on my part" he replied. T meant to befriend Amy Dabb. She needs it, Heaven knows But if you let her jealous tongue spoil anythin' for you, I'm through"
 'Trueman, I could forgive a great deal, I think. but no bold lie,' she murmured, her grave eyes piercing him.
 T would not lie to you to save my life,p he returned. in weary cold finality
 T apologize. It is I who am a little suspicious" she returned softly I'm woman, and Inaye'nt told you my real feelings. And cannot. But I could never cope with Mrs. Dabb. She read my soul and tortured it. She thought I might-like you and meant to de- stroy.'
 'Thiry, did she destroy whst little there might have been?a asked Rock,