The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-02-23
Buying Barbara

Iitely trying to vulgarize your ca reer."
 You think SOP" murmure q Mark.
 Couldn't I see you last night, the kind of people he had brought to his house and the kind of en- tertainment he provided for them.
 The car had turned into the park now, and was sweeping slow ly along the outer circle.
 Unique commented Mark. "Ab- solutely unique you are, Barbara
 She searched his face.
 You mean Im-foolish?" T mean" his lip lifted at one corner-"you are possessed of a unique and quite amazing nerve.
 She drew herself up.
 Whatever I've done or said that is so stupid, you must not speak to me like that" But her voice shook badly.
 50 you are going to carry me off and marry me, are you? Be- cause you don't approve of the company I keep! And I'm to be allowed very few really respec- table little folk to play with me now and then, and I get beer and tobacco allowance, I suppose?r
 No, Mark, no! put it toe sweepingly, perhaps I know I'm naturally bossy-people Have told me that. But I do want to take you away from Farrell Armitage before he utterly spells you and l think that whatever you say, you do really want to come"
 Mark glanced out of the win dow. He waved hand languidly to an acquaintance. He watched a dog frisk across the road.
 Mark" she begged, T don't know what is in your mind"
 This. That when we marry and don't forget that last time I asked you, you refused me, when We marry, it will be I who decide where and how I shall live after wards. I may or may not be a lcripple, by then, but if I were twisted into twice the funny knots am already, will be absolute master of my own life. If that doesn't suit you-get out of itl"
 You don't know what you're lsaying. You don't mean it. You would be living one kind of life, I another" She tried to smile. Tt wouldn't be real marriage at lall"
 And yet" pursued Mark, mo bother kind of marriage would be possible with you, Barbara. You're bossy, as you say yourself. won't Eeither boss or be bossed."
 'Then-?" she said, still smil- ling.
 The whole question is shelved indefinitely" he suggested. "Or no. You're one of those people who insist on being given a date. Let's shelve it then, for a year. In the meantime. you can leave me to steep myself in vice under Amitage's able guidance -" He | 1ouo1,ad a,,,pcadl,r uopd ,,o,, oo, go back to Toxeter Excellent place for good little girls to be good in, Toxeter."
 She put her hand to the speak | ing tube.
 Stop, please" she requested.
 Getting out, Barbara?"
 The car drew into the curb and the chauffeur came to the door.
 Should you really be so very final, do you think?' Mark went on. T mean, won't you have a terrible lot to unsay when you want to be engaged to me again? All that tin-chapel talk about Ar mitage-"
 She look at him blindly. Mich field had returned to his wheel and she held the open door in her hand. In a moment she would shut it upon Mark and his cush- ions and his laughter and let him go.
 when one of the most satisfy ing things about my party was that it drove him out of his own house in gentlemanly disgust He didn't come back to Brandish Place until an hour ago!"
 Her hand frightened on the door. She said, almost violently:
 You're mistaken I saw him standing in the doorway of your studio about two o'clock, looking on. I heard something he said about you"
 You saw him clearly?"
 Not clearly, no. From behind" 1"
 His build is very much like Poole's, his secretary. It was MT. Watchdog Poole you saw. And the only reason I'm troubling to mention all this" Marks voice shrilled suddenly, ''the only reason is that before you eyer dare to