The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-28
PARADISE 7 DAWSON

 didn't seem to me unfair to let you paddle the canoe. BuI why go into that? You pushed me too hard. Brought out all my worst qualities. You lacked me a few weeks too soon for your own profit-and, l may add, for my own self respect. I'm wealthy now. II like to feel that I'd been assessed for the dam age I've done you. It's impossible to approach you with an offer 'oi a, cash settlement. Because of that when I learned that Give was in l low water" She swung around.
 You saw your chance to, com promise me. To lead Give to sus- pect-" T saw my chance, mistakenly as events have turned out. to prove to you that I could be decent. "Dicky."
 Yes"
 Some of the things you said last night were true; that was why they hurt. You accused me of be- Ing most selfish when I fool myself that I'm selfish. If I'm as di- | rectionless as that, I'm a Shir without a rudder. You've made me feel insecure" He nodded That's what divorce does to you IT have no confidence left in my Judgment. I went wrong in the ,reatest decision" Me too" she tapped her breast To have been divorced is to have uffered an amputation. The shock
 tays. If you were to marry again )icky, would having been married me make any difference? What | mean is could you force yourself act as though it were the first ime?"
 He smiled.
 Your question tells lot. No
 couldn't. I'd be continually con-
 using the second woman with you
 I'd start to refer to things in the past and then remember that il
 yas with you I'd done them..'
 She seated herself at last, draw
 ng her chair close to his. That's what I feared might nap.
 ,en between myself and Give. | Has happened?" he suggested Has happened" She responded ] O his sympathy. You're the on ly person in the world to whom IT would own it-I suppose becaus' | you're the only person who woult | understand me You come sud | ienly into my mind by day for nt 1 'eason whatever; you become s. ,,vivid that sometimes you usurp tn | place of Give. Worse still, dream | about you at night; that I'm stil
 married to you
 Same With me, santa.
 But isn't it queer" she appeal | I'd to him, after the cat-and-do' | fife we led? I was always prod ling you to set you in motion 2When I wasn't. I was checking lyou. If I hadn't, goodness onl,
 knows where we'd have landed
 I'm sorry. I oughtn't have sai'
 so."
 T was crazy ass" He grinnet ruefully. Apologies aren't neces
 sary But why feed the sam
 medicine to a steady earnest fel
 low like Clive?"
 /! With a stifled cry of gratitud
 she dived forward.
 You do approve of him.
 He's the salt of the earth
 Santa, if you mess him up, vol idont deserve to be forgiven" | Her eyes filled. Then I don't deserve to be for Igiven I'm so afraid after guar lrel. All our rows are the result
 of my acting policeman. Excep
 when I hold him in my arms, Tn : nervous"
 Then stop acting policeman. wish there was something I coul' , do?"
 She stroked his sleeve to softer the blow.
 l You're sweet-but having yo , hanging about makes matters diff } ficult."
 Poor darling" r When the clock striking five l I the passage warned them, the | seemed to have been talking fo 1 hours.
 What time does Clyive return?
 Hes due any minute" Dicky rose, casting a furtiv
 glance round the bedroom. At tn ? front door he halted T made bad husband; coul | be good friend if you would al , low me-
 I Already you've done me good 1Jz l-s 1,a