The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-02-02
Buying Barbara

{ age ran down to meet her.
 Its really very nice of you tc come at such short notice," ht
 said. When he had done laugh. < ing he added: Let Gaffen takt g your dressing-case. He'll see tt
 all your luggage. Is your son with
 you?"
 You bet he isl Mark" Shc
 shouted it over her shoulder, as
 though she were still in Kings Nal \ lard. When there came no re- sponse whatever from the heap oi rugs inside the sedan, he laughed
 again.
 The run has been a bit long i for him, I daresay," she offered by
 way of explanation. "P'rhaps someone1l 'elp him out?"
 At nod from Armitage his ser
 wants approached the car and Ar .njtage entered the house with the lady. She was in her noisiest mood. The introduction of Miss | Raoul had to be effected, fortis- simo, and, the actress face was study as she waited in vain for a lull in which to express her pleasure at the meeting. As for the terriers, they scuttled up the staircase and disappeared into the peaceful upper regions of the house.
 Got up with the early birds this morin',' enthused Mrs. Lodely. "Al- ways have to allow an extra hour fo' Mark, y'know, half an hour for his lameness and half an hour in case anythin' uh5xpected happens to himr"
 Armitage felt Gaften at his side.
 MT. Lodely, sir, he doubts whether he can venture to move from the car without your assis- ltan oe."
 Mine? Can't Michfield and Thomas tackle the weight between them?"
 Easily should have said, sir. Or offered my shoulder. But MT Lodely is quite insistent, sir, that no one but yourself shall touch him"
 Armitage hesitated. His instinct Twas to ignore his whim, since it lcould be nothing more. Damned little egomaniac, he ought to be kicked! But, of course, one could not touch a cripple. On the phys ical plane, Armitage supposed, one couldn't logically refuse a cripple anything.
 Mrs. Lodely, hurling small talk |of her type at an appalled, Miss Raoul, broke off to glance some what anxiously at the car. Ar mitage went down to it again.
 Whats up Lodely?"
 He had put his head right into the sedan for only the faintest movement had come from his guest. At first Armitage, who was ready for a studied languor. Iarched eyebrows, and a good deal |of Temperament" was confused by the fact that Mark was not actually visible at all. Then he moved again, and Armitage, peer ing, found him prostrate upon the spacious cushions.
 "Very unconvincing, isn't it?" murmered Mark. But I'm afraid I really do get heart attacks from excitement, and I really do have to be lifted in a special way. Gen. erally, Barbara supervlses it."
 Armitage, genuinely shocked by the white lips, the twitching eye lids and the panting breath, could only beg to be shown how this lifting was to be attempted.
 Mark pantingly complained.
 But, of course, if you don't think you have the strength" he added, T can just stay here until I am able to move of myself. Then I shall only need someone to hold my crutch. One of your servants could manage that, I'm sure"
 Just clear this floor, Michfield. will you?" asked Farrell.
 Mark was eased off the seat and disposed in a rug while Armitage walked round to his second posi- tion. Then came the real pull on his muscles. He succeeded mainly because he felt it was imperative that he should succeed. Slowly. like an overladen beast, with Marks full weight upon him, he mounted the steps and carried Mark into the house.
 Brute force," he heard Mark murmer. Women are supposed to admire it." Armitage looked at him sharply, but Mark had ap- parently tainted.
 Mrs. Lodely was insistent that no doctor need be summoned
 'He goes into these faints and he comes out of 'em again." She did not even moderate her tones