The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-23
PARADISE
DAWSON

| pressing her With ms importance he stuffed a stack of papers intt his satchel.
 What on earth have you there?' she challenged.
 Work, darling
 What a shame"
 No, Santa. A salary of my size requires earning. Give me pen cn and paper Divide the days of the year into twelve thousand I'm earning just short of thirty three dollars a day, including Sum- days and holidays. That's two hundred and thirty a week. A thousand month. Think of it! I daren't slouch. It's up to me to prove worthy"
 Which means working the old head overtime in the evenings?'
 Fraid so-at least at the start"
 Can't. I help?"
 He was touched
 You can't typewrite and take shorthand"
 Girls more dumb than I can"
 True" He took her face be- tween his ands. But they're trained dumb bells. I've seen sam- ples of your spelling. Besides"
 Besides nothing" Her earnest ness increased at his refusal. I'm turning over new leaf. I've not shown sufficient interest in you I'm intelligent"
 You're better than intelligent" |" He drew her to him. Have you any idea how few sweet girls there have ever been in the world? Hel- en of Troy, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Nell Gwyn-and now there's you. You're work of art. I wouldn't permit you to blunt your fingers banging a typewriter. No sir, at a pinch, I'll hire"
 Over dinner she resumed her plea.
 How would it suit you to be merely decorative? In a way, that is what you were while you were out of employment. You didn't find life so hot. From the time you leave me in bed in the morn ing till you return, I fritter."
 For instance?"
 Washing my hair, Manicuring my nails. Getting into mischief in shops"
 But you have the housekeep- ing"
 Don't be futile, Give. I tidy up our bedroom; the maid does the rest plan one meal. Now if were learning to typewrite all day I'd be doing something for you. I'd have a purpose. How long would it take to learn?"
 T don't want you to learn"
 Being bossy again." She shook finger.
 He tried to change the subject.
 Talking about being bossy, do you remember the agreement we made last night, that everything's going to be not me or you, but us? Now that I'm earning an in come large enough to provide for both of us"
 You've only been earning it a day" She winked at him.
 Now that I a1n," he refused to be diverted, 4how about moving out from this shelf in a cupboard and renting real home? By a real home I mean a place where people don't live beneath you and above you. Where you can make a noise without receiving complaint from the janitor. Where you can be i'll without being flung into the streets like carrion. I mean the kind of place where you can have an open fire, your own cellar and your own coal?"
 'sIt sounds sweet" she beamed. especially the cellar. Have you some particular place in mind?"
 Not at the moment"
 And keep chickens, I suppose. and burn our own garbage? But where, Give, I'm all excited"
 There's heaps of country around New York"
 She feigned disappointment.
 Well, when you've decided, let me know How about my learning to type-?"
 Heavens, Santa! Can't you con- centrate?"
 That's what am doing, darl- ing. We were speaking of typing first"
 But to possess home is more important" He struggled to hold her attention. "A home would keep you fully occupied. We'd have a garden. There'd be seeds to plant"
 An wouldn't I look cute" she laughed, pushing a lawn-mower?'