The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-01-21

afraid next Thursday isn't possi- ble."
 Too bad. Well, we must fix ur something else-some other time | Armitage became amiably vague I'm leaving the country for the winter months but no doubt we shall meet again" He looked at his watch. q say, Miss Quentin's been waiting four minutes already
 She won't mind if you tell her you've been buying my pictures, Marks lids had fallen again and he was tearing a dingy thread from the rug that covered him. "She has the business head of the family As a matter of fact, next Thurs day"
 He paused for so long that Ar mitage was on the verge of some saving commonplace.
 AS a matter of fact" insisted Mark, suddenly and violently 1 throwing aside the rug, T car come up on Thursday, if you're still kind enough to ask me. Goo knows when I shall ever get the chance of holiday from Texeter once I'm there. :. It's most ex- traordinarily decent of you to be willing to put up with me- 1 Armitage took a deep breath He drew away from the fire, which seemed to be making the room far too hot and took another ! breath, even deeper It meant such lot, this postponement of Thurs days ceremony! It meant among other things, that one need never, whatever happened, feel any com- junction towards Mark Lodely.
 "IIl send a car down, then he said cheerfully. You'll prefer to travel by road; less fatiguing. By the way, what do you consider your real work?'"
 "Cariacture, answered Mark.
 He had drawn himself up to 6 sitting position, and pitched the rug to the floor. His pale eyes glittered, his hair struggled over his forehead, his shoulders twitch- ed He looked, Armitage thought, as though he had been hurled earthwards from some distant star and had fallen crumpled, but de- liant still.
 "Cariacture, he repeated. T suppose I'll sicken you, but I'm good at savaging people. like | it; it's meat and drink to me. There's something in my psychol- ogy-"
 Then you must meet McLough- lin," suggested Armitage, dodging discussion of the artistic psyche. You know his work, of course. I am fortunate in possessing two of his most clashing efforts at my self; also, his friendship. :. <. We must arrange something"
 Till Tursday, then"
 Making his way gingerly down the ill-lit, cluttered staircase. Arm itage began to lose his sense of success. Barbara's smile, the smile she had given Mark was before his eyes. It shut him out com- fpletely. Of what significance was it t to cause the marriage to be postponed, so long as Mark alone could call that sweetness to her eyes and lips?. .. He turned the last corner and saw Barbara be- low him in the hall.
 She was standing with hand raised to her breast in curious gesture of pride and pleading, her head little bent, her eyes upon the open sitting-room door. Ii was evident that Mrs. Lodely was within, for her hoarse drawl came lup to Armitage as he hesitated upon the stairs.
 Its appallin' waste, that's what it is and I'd like to box his ears for it. AS for your keepin' it. you'll be out of your mind if you do, my dear gel. All very nice, feelin' the better part of three hundred pounds swingin' round your neck but you were sayin yourself only an hour ago" Armitage continued to descend l the stairs and the voice stopped Barbara, turning gravely-all her movements seemed slow and grave looked up at him as he ap- preached her She said nothing but he had the impression that, in a businesslike way, she presented herself for approval.
 Armitage possessed an eye for wo- mems clothes and he saw at once that her dress was of very beauti- full material, very wonderfully cut I It was silk, he thought, opaque and heavy and what he believed was called "watered." At least there were wide nipples of light land shadow sprayed across it.