The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-08-29
Chapter ss
NICHOLAS cRoss

 s "VoU didn't answer my letter." < A Georgie said.
 ! Perhaps hadn't. anything to say" Nicholas replied, and then with an effort Tt was kind of you to 2 write; kinder of you to come here."
 That little lump in Georgie's thrcit was threatening once more to choke her; she wanted so des- ' pnrately to say something that would comfort him--to say that she didn't mind how he looked-that he would always be the same to her tie dashing hero of the silver screen Who had first captured her girlish fancy. but she was afraid of hurting him, of driving home to hixi more deeply the realization of all he had lost.
 s.. It was he who broke the silence with an attempt at lightneGs.
 So you have been making friends with my wife?'
 Not friends" Georgie said. then realizing that her words were not Ii very polto she hastened to amend them. T don't think am the sort of girl she would make friends with. but she vas very nice. Iwent to the studio to see her making a picture" ,"
 And did you find it very in. tfiguing?"
 Not very"
 Tt curea you of your Smb.ss.oa to be film starr"
 Yes"
 And so you've been having hec. tic time?" he said cesor moment. Lots of fun and dances and pro. posals, suppose"
 She did not answer, and he went on; Its wonderful to be young and happy. Robin. Make the most of it." ' I'm not happy" Georgie said. At least, not in the way you mean. And Iwlsh you wor!dnt talk to me as if 1 were a child"
 You are a child. You looked so much of child when l saw you standing out in the hall there just now that felt as if ought to have brought you back doll"
 She made no reply, and suddenly he knew that she was weeping. quiet weeping which was so much harder to listen to unmdved than a burst of sobbing would have been.
 He bore it in silence for moment, then he said almost angrily: 'I don't know why you're crying. Idon't cry. and after all it's my funeral"
 Georgie looked at him through her tears. " t9 '~ I'm crying because you've shut ~ he out of your life" she said in broken whisper 2e aes Shut you out!" He laughed mirth- lessly. Don't you know that there's flo room for you in my prison? I've been trying to make you understand that ever since first met you.' v"And I've been trying to make you understand that there is.'' she re- torted with sudden courage. You Asaid just now l was child. We'll, children don't take up much room a Don't they?" he submitted som. berly. T think there are some chil- iren who fill the whole world, if you care, for them sufficiently we'll"
 She moved hesitating step near CT to him. sat
 Tt must be rather sweet to be cared for so much," she said breath. lessly. and again her hand stole into his.
 NICHOLAS moved suddenly, touch AN ing a switch in the wall and flooding the room with ligtht.
 Now look at me-" he said.
 Georgie looked: her soft brown eyes rested on his scared face with quiet and happy assurance. { "Well?" she said softly. You're 7 just the same to me as you've always heen." r. |i'rs ' af 2"You're a little fool. Robin," he an- swered. almost violently. and he turned his disfigured face away.
 Georgie said: "r wish you would put out some of the light again. Il want to say lots of things to you. and it's easier when it'snot 70 liz at."
 Because you can't see what al, ugly brute am?" as ssHni ae
 FGeorgie ignored that. but she slipped past him and turned out some of the lights herself. then she asked quietly: