The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-10-25

 say?"
 Then as Caroline. laughing and her head, was about to run out of the room, there was change in voice and manner. A puzzled look came over Patsy's face; her color receded. and her voice took on a tone of disappointment.
 "Oh. Yes, she's here. Who shall I say?... Oh ... Very well, I'll call her"
 She turned from the instrument, which was fastened to the wall at the foot of the stair.
 Caroline - someone wants you. She won't give any name"
 Caroline took the receiver wih some impatience. It was so stupid of people not to give their names. If you were cut off, you never knew who had been calling you. She sim ply hated that.
 There came to her along the wire an almost inaudible voice.
 'Is that Caroline Leigh?"
 "Who is speaking?"
 ''Is that Caroline Leigh?"
 "Yes. Who is speaking?"'
 Will you come and see me? want to see you very badly"
 But who are you? didn't hear"
 T didn't say. want to see you about-Jim." There was faint des- perate catch in the voice before the name came out.
 IT took Caroline a moment to get her own voice steady.
 Are you-no, you're not-Nesta."
 Who is Nesta? No, never mind. Pm Susie. You know now, don't you? Will you come and see me?"
 Caroline's heart leapt Susie Van Berg wanted to see her. Why? Of all things in the world. she wanted most to see Susie Van Berg. She wanted it so much that she was afraid to say yes. Could she go- might she go? Was there any pos sible hurt to Jim in her going? She couldn't see any.
 Susie Van Berg spoke again, a little louder, little more insist ently.sF @ N4
 Are you there? Will you come?"
 "Yes." said Caroline, and had the feeling, like Robert. that she was taking an irrevocable step.
 How will you come?" said Susie Van Berg. q would send the car but then the servants would talk"
 They'll do that anyhow" said Caroline with the ghost of laugh. But you needn't bother-Pve got my own little car. When shall come?"
 The. voice said,a "'At once"
 Caroline's thoughts moved rapid ly. She said,
 Not if you don't want to make talk. It isn't as if I knew you very we'll. It would be better if 1 came in the afternoon-anyone can come in the afternoon.
 What timer" The voice fluttered.
 Between five and six" said Caro- line. Will that do?"
 The voice said, "Yes." The click of the receiver put full stop to the word.
 Susie Van Berg turned from the telephone, clutching with both hands at the pale blue satin wrap she was wearing. She had locked both doors before she rang up Caro- line Leigh-the bedroom door, and the door of the big dressing-room which she had turned into sitting room for herself.
 The communicating door stood open between the two rooms. The telephone was f. the sitting-room. She had hung up the receiver be- cause she had heard someone try the handle of the bedroom door.
 She stood for a moment, listening in a strained position, the light of the grey rainy morning falling cold upon her pallor. She had the type of looks which needs the sun. Her hair was so pale as to be almost sil- yer, her eyes a forget-me-not blue, her skin as white as privet, with no more than a faint rose to tinge the cheeks, and deepen to the color of pink hawthorn in the lips.
 She stood there listening. and heard the handle tried again. In an instant she had stepped out of her slippers and, picking them up. the floor and gone through the communicating door, moving without a sound. The bedroom blinds were down, and-the curtains drawn. The only light came from the sit ting room.
 Sasie Van Berg slipped into the bed and, leaning over sha cdga, set her slippers down be- z '&.!i t. Taen. pulling the clothes 2 :: !: tSr. she reached out her hand rge: i.a bell.
 fces. J. B. Lippincott. Col
 Caroline m akss
 -.i7o call. xi