The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-05-27
by Julia CleH-Addams

with Eddie. Last night, under her tired feet, Eyle Street had seemed long. But with Eddie clutchlng at her shoulder, swerv- ing and jibbing like a terrified horse at every sudden sound-it | seemed like a road in nightmare that goes on and one until at last she wakes. By the time she had installed him in Mrs. Bigger's upper rooms she felt as though she too, would swerve and jib and finally turn tail and run away. But she did not let him guess t. She talked to him, brightly md steadily. All the way there, v-fie people stared and children pointed at his bandages and his l lncer. .ain steps. and she went on alking new while she unpacked lis belongings.
 sIsn't Mrs. Bigger a good sport? Nle's so ugly you think first she | must be thoroughly bad-tempered i put she is one of the most amiable people I've ever seen Do you think you'll find your handker- chiefs if I put them in this draw er?"
 "Only a girl would fuss with lot of handkerchiefs at all" said Eddie drowsily Much simpler never to unpack anything, then iyou can always find it."
 He was lying on the narrow bed. His hands behind his head, his eyes closed. He had been pushed and persuaded into Mrs Bigger's shop in a pitiful state of nerves, but the sight of his future landlady had so delighted him that he had thrown aside his fears and followed her quite naturally up the stairs to the room he was to occupy Mrs Bigger had sense encugh not to criticise him about his accident; she promised to come lup later when he had "a nice snatch of sleep and read to him lfrcm the Sunday papers; and ra- ther to Jennys surprise he had lgrinne1 and agreed
 T like that cid horror" he re- marked when she was gone She doesn't get me all fused up like
 those doctors and nurses did. I never could stand hospitals. Mrs. Bigger will suit me down to the lground indoors, and you'll be here won't you-when I have to go out. Between the two of you I shall do fine"
 Ill come back this afternoon or this evening" she promised. She noticed that he had not mentioned Georgie again. It was perhaps a pity that she must be mentioned at all But there was no choice.
 @If Georgie stays on with MT. Matching she began reluctantly,
 @shefewill have to take care that
 he doesn't hear that she is mar lried We shall all have to take care to keep it secret. :. You'll
 take care, too. won't you Eddie?"
 Personally, I'm going to let
 people say and think anything irather than tell them the truth, ,
 she added firmly You must back me up, because we can never know IWhat come to MT. Matching's ears At any rate"-as he still made nc
 kind. of response-"until Georgie comes home, and you can discuss
 things with her"
 She waited for a moment, but } there was neither word nor sign , Was he really asleep? No, she l was sure he could hear her. She sighed and quietly opened the door
 She had a great longing to get : out of the bare, poor little room 3 with it's coarse lace curtains-anc } into the air.
 ' "Jenny!" The call came jus ? as she was over the threshold.
 T hate to bother you about any. 3 thing" she protested, returning tt : his side. But Georgie made ms : see that it's most frightfully i'm !. portant that"
 All right, I'll remember. IT s talk any darn nonsense anybod. l likes. m begin by telling Mrs e Beauty Bigger that I've got thre'
 wives already. Go on, you bug e off. I'm sleepy again, Anyway l I've got plenty to think about" l She left him to it. In spite o
 the nonchalance she knew he wa y hurt, hurt and bewildered an, d lonely. So often she had hersel n been all those things; that sh n knew how he longed to be alone " She had final word. with Mrs Q Bigger, then crossed the road t
 the hotel and there paid her bil k and collected her few possession.
 As she was leaving, the clerk calle' = her attention to note which hat k he said, arrived for her by spec