The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-08-17
Chapter 2s THE MI BETTING

TIE M G = ttif0 nNE night when they were dining fin the hotel restaurant instead of going out as they usually did, Bernie Boyd walked i"
 Georgie saw her first. broke off in something she was saying, and stared and stared at the vision in white that was slowly advancing down the room, happily conscious that she was the center of all eyes. There were two men with her, and for one wild moment George thought that perhaps one of them might be Nicholas. but of course it was not, and she caught her breath with a quick sigh of disappointment.
 Bernie was dressed in white chif- ion with fieecy wrap of some ex- pensive looking fur. and one of the men with her was carrying bou- quet of crimson roses which he laid beside her plate when they sat down at their table.
 "Georgie-what are you staring at?" Evelyn asked, but almost at once she saw for herself.
 Bernie Boyd! We'll, now you see!"
 See what?" Georgie asked.
 "The attention she gets." Evelyn said rather tartly That tall man with her is Lord Silbury. The other suppose is her husband. Why men will run after coinmon women is more than I can understand. Wom- en never run after common men. They are far too sensitive"
 q wish she'd come and speak to us," Georgie said.
 There was a flush of excitement In her cheeks. and her eyes looked darker than usual.
 Il suppose she thinks that it is my place to go and speak to her., Evelyn said. Everything is upside down nowadays. But very probably shall go and speak to her. should like to meet Lord Silbury. You're not eating anything. Georgie."
 I'm not hungry" Georgie said.
 Georgie looked at the two men who were with Bernie Lord Sil- bury was tall. and thin; Hungry looking" Georgia thought; he re- minded her of one of the Peers in "Iolanthe," of which she had seen an amateur performance. Mrs. Spears had been in the chorus, and she had given Georgie a ticket on the second and most unsuccessful night. T
 The other man who Evelyn had vaguely supposed to be Nicholas was young and fair, and effeminate, with a waist to his coat and hair too carefully marcelled.
 If you've finished, Bishop, we may as we'll go to the lounge" Eve lyn said.
 And it was in the lounge, over coffee and liqueurs that Georgie was introduced to Bernie.
 My daughter Georgie, she's a film fan, Miss Boyd. She knew all About you directly mentioned your hame."
 Bernie turned starry. black-lashed eyes on Georgie.
 How sweet" she said; she smiled at the girl and sat down be- side her, but she still talked to the men, seeming to single Bishop out for special attention.
 rEORGIE watched her with a ~ feeling of unreality.
 She was so fair and small. like . doll.
 2 Of course Nicholas must love her. Men always liked that type of girl much better than anyone dark and brown-skinned like herself. 2. A long mirror on the wall oppo- site reflected the little group they made, and George studied it with eOmbre eyes.
 She was wearing a brown frock tonight which made her look even darker and moro elfin-like. Evelyn had said 1t was a clever touch when the dressmaker (who called herself Irene, wit an accent on the second syllable), had sug- gested brown.
 If you are sunburnt. you might as we'll make use of it instead ot trying to hide it," she told Georgie. "You're a brunette and can never be anything else. so we must make the most of it."
 But tonight Georgie hated her self; hated her dark eyes, and her thick wavy hair. and longed to be fair, and all pink and white like the girl beside her.
 { Even Bishop looked at Bernie ad-