The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-02-28


 breath of dear old Kings Mallarc into all this luxurious monotony, murmered Mark and not for the first time Armitage uncomfortably contemplated the fact that his thoughts had been read.
 The monotony we can none of us tighten, I'm afraid, Lodely. You must just count the days. Look on them as an investment"
 That's what I'm always tellin' him." burst out Mrs. Lodely. T don't believe he realizes yet what you've done for him, Farrell. don't really. After all, it takes a bit of thinkin' about, when you've been a cripple all your life to i'm agine yourself walkin' easily. Like explainin' sight to a blind man; it can't be done"
 Mark had shut his eyes when this torrent began ant did not open them as he addressed Ar mitage
 T think I should be able to ex- press my gratitude better if I could get some idea of your motive, Not personal liking; I am sure I may still take it that your motive is not personal liking. And not the desire to be a patron saint. No. It is the old puzzle. I suppose it will never be solved"
 I'm ready to solve it now, as it happens"
 Mrs. Lodely gaped from one man to the other in a vague alarm. Marks eyes flew open. Yes, there was fear in them. Poor devil.
 Some other time" he suggest ed, waving hand Unless you feel that you absolutely cannot wait for that gratitude of mine any longer"
 Now, Mark, you're just rilin' Farrell for no reason whatever. You"
 Its all right, Mrs. Lodely. take a lot of riding. And your son is perfectly right in requiring some kind of statement from me. He has asked for it often enough and it's only fair that at last he should have it."
 T don't like statements" Marks voice rose fretfully Really, Ar mitage I don't feel up to this po- lice-court atmosphere. Let us say that you deserve my most abject devotion for everything you have done for me, for whatever reason, and let us leave it at that" He scowled, a sick child hugging its grievances. Armitage looked at him with forbearance.
 I'm sorry, but I'm going to make myself clear whether you like it or not. If you genuinely don't wish to listen you'd better put your fingers in your ears" But Armitage did not turn to Mrs. Lodely, now fidgetnig nervolsly. He went on talking to Mark. My first confession is no news to your mother and, suspect, no news to you. I fell in love with Barbara lat sight and on the first available occasion I asked her to marry me" Marks color came back. Armi- tage's old suspicion became cer- ltainty. Mark had guessed his love for Barbara long ago.
 You tried to take my girl be- hind my back? How typical! Would you have done that, I won- der, if had not had crutch to drag about with me?" You can wonder that, if YOU like,' said Armitage equably. "The point is, of course, that if I'd thought she genuinely cared for you and you could have given her some kind of happiness, should have got out without a word. But I didn't think life with you would be anything but hell for her" Marks smile grew. Mrs. Lodelv apparently from embarrassment laughed loud and long. Barbara seemed to admit that lit would be he'll" went on Armit- age when she was quiet again. but she insisted that her feeling for you was, if not love, something as great as love and as eternal
 Well, I must say you young folks talk things out pretty freely!o Mrs. Lodely got up knocked a vase of flowers over and sat down again. TT suppose it does no harm in way but I don't know I'm sure lit quite takes me back Go on, Armitage."
 My challenge to Barbara was that if she could see you well successful, popular, financially se- cure, she would perhaps no long CT feel bound to you in the par ticular way in which she did feel bound"