The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-11-01

the library. It would not De open un- til nine o'clock, so he walked down the High Street, through Poulter's Row, and round the Market Square.
 Jim was passing the statue in Market Square when girl who had just come down Market Street with basket on her arm stopped short not a yard away and said "Oh!" in a tone of so much surprise that his at- tention was arrested.
 A moment before, he had not known that there was a girl there, but when she said "Oh!" he saw Min Williams staring at him and recog- nized her at once She had on a blue serge coat and skirt and very neat little dark blue hat which brought out the gold of her hair and the blue of her eyes.
 She said "Oh," again, and her cheeks turned bright pink. It was an barrassing encounter. There was nothing for it but to make it as ordinary as possible.
 He said good morning, asked her why she was out so early, and was about to pass on, when she stopped him.
 q" 4 RE you in hurry?" It was salu ( \ timidly, hesitatingly. Her color came and went Only a very hard hearted person could have admitted to being in hurry.
 Jim said, Not at all."
 "Then if we could just walk round the square"
 They began to walk. When they reached the colonnade which embel- fishes the west side of the square, however, she turned to him with a look of embarrassed appeal.
 Aren't you coming back?" She was brightly flushed. The effort to speak had brought tears into her eyes.
 Jim was rather touched
 q don't think so, Min"
 "Tm not one to interfere-but she's very unhappy"
 "Nesta?"
 She nodded.
 q don't think it's on my account"
 She nodded again, blinking away a tear.
 What makes you think so?" he said.
 Mln's eyes reproaehed him.
 You've not been married a month"
 I'm not admitting I'm married at all"
 She backed away from him.
 You haven't remembered?"
 q haven't remembered marrying Nesta."
 Don't you want to remember?"
 He gave a short laugh.
 Not that!"
 "It's dreadful for her." she said in a soft, distressed way. Pm so sorry for Nesta 1 don't know what to do"
 What makes you think she minds, Min?"
 "She's so cross," said Min in genuously. There Isn't nothing right from morning till night"
 He got kind of hard amusement out of that. He wanted Min to go on talking, so he said.
 You think she really minds?"
 of it was Tom" said Min, and turned quite pale.
 Toms a very lucky young man, and expect he knows it."
 He wanted her to talk. because an idea was shaping itself in his mind. When he had walked up in her house, it was Min who told him he was Jim Riddell Now if Min had known him really known him-as Jim Riddell, and as Nesta's husband before the wreck of the Alice Arden. he wouldn't have to believe her. but he would certainly have to take her evidence very seriously into ac' count.
 Min blushed.
 "Oh, don't know about that" she said.
 | Someone had turned into the colonnade from Poulter's Row. The last thing that Jim wanted was to l attract attention. He said, "We'd better walk" And then, as they moved, Min don't know about l anything. For instance, I haven't any idea of where l first met you. l Min said "Oh!" in startled | way.
 | "If Pm Nesta's husband, I'm your | brother-in-law." | That's right" | "Then I suppose we're old ac' l quaintances-you've known me Tor | long time" | If she wasn't truthful, she'd say yes to that and land with both feet in his trap. The gap in his memory only covered the last six weeks. On the farther side of it were the seven 1 years he had spent overseas. He felt an odd relief when she shook her head "No."
 fCopyright. 19ss, J. B. Lippincott Co.,,
 Tomorrow. Jim gets some vaIua- A.e information from Min.