The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-08-01
Chapter IS A NEW FRIEND

Y DIDN'T like it," Georgie sa1d ! "I hate people killing one an other"
 T get rather tired of 1t myself, he admitted. "The next picture k better" He had nice face. not strictly good-looking. but fresh and healthy. with brown hair and the faintest suspicion of moustache shadowing his upper lip.
 He looked lih. a man who played outdoor games, and lived healthy life.
 "It's extraordinary how these places ill up." he said. Half of the pictures are utter rubbish. and yet people flock to see them"
 Don't you like the picturesT Georgie asked.
 He half shrugged his shoulders Mot very much, but I came in be. cause I've got some time to wait for . friend"
 Georgie laughed. How funny! That's why I came" They looked at one another with interested eyes I've just come back from America. ]" Georgie volunteered.
 Really? Whats 1t like out there?"
 "Oh, suppose it's alright. think the ship was the best part of 1t, go. Ing out and coming home"
 Do you live in London?"
 'No, in the country. Where do you liver"
 i've got rooms in town"
 "Sometimes wish had" Georgie sighed, then she suddenly recollected that she was giving her confidence to complete stranger and she pulled herself up to say deprecatingly. T don't know why I'm telling you all this."
 "All what?" Ae asked in amuse- ment. You haven't told me any. thing except that you live In the country" He shifted his position a little, looking at her more sQuarely. "Pm a friendly sort of person." he said, land don't see the slightest harm in talking to someone if you like the look of them. whether you've been introduced or not. It's such rubbish. all this convention. ality."
 She nodded. "Yes. I think so too."
 My names Asher" this rather astounding young man went on. "Clifford Asher. and I'm in a solici- tors office. Are you a business girl?"
 "Oh, mo-"
 T thought not" he said. "Well, aren't you going to tell me your nameT
 "Oh, yes, if you like. It's Georgie Bancroft. and I'm only just up in London for the afternoon to see a friend"
 "I see. We'll, I suppose there's no reason why we should not talk?"
 Aren't we talking?" Georgie asked.
 He laughed at that. "I suppose so. but I mean there's no reason why we shouldn't go on talking"
 "No." The lights wen down again and Georgie felt little thankful. She had never met a man like this before. and he rather took her breath away even while she real ized that his friendliness was just the sort of thing that appealed to her, and that he had tackled her in just the same manner in which she had first approached Nicholas Boyd. WELL. why not?" she asked her.
 " self. There's no harm in 1t: we shall never see each other again." But when the pictures were over Clifford Asher asked her to have tea with him.
 Georgie shook her head.
 "Tm going to have tea with my friend at six o'clock"
 "Well. can't you manage two teas?" he asked.
 Georgie consulted the big clock on the wall before them: there was still an hour to kill.
 "Oh. all right" she said.
 They went out into Oxford Street together.
 It was raining little and her cs. cort suggested a taxi. but Georgie refused. T like walking in the rain"
 "Very we'll" He turned up the collar of his coat and they walked along together.
 They went into a teashop in Re gent Street where a banG was play ing and everything was bright and cheerful
 "Isn't it-nice?" Georgie said in wholehearted enjoyment. He laughed. sYou're a queer 1t.