The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-10-12

the steps anu WaCCueu uIH Wto1 shining eyes.
 He walked to the edge of the grass and. turning, looked again at the house. That was just how she had seen him from her window. How long ago? Half an hour? It was very strange to think that tfe world could change and be quite different world to- you in half an hour.
 Jim stood and looked at the house. He looked at it for a long time. Then he walked to the edge of the gravel sweep and back again. He did this several times. and just at the end a little whispering dread stirred in Caroline's mind.
 She pulled herself up by the balu. strade and stood on the step above him. He said.
 Caroline, Pm in mess"
 So that was why she had begun to be afraid. She said, f
 What sort of a mess. Jini?" Fs
 9~I don't know that it's fair to tell you-in fact it's not. Tin confused still, but do know that. You oughtn't even to be here." A's
 How dreadful!" said Caroline. Where else ought I to be?"
 "In bed--and you'd better be get. ting along, my dear. I don't know how you came here at aH."
 H"Oh, followed you. All romantic. darling-it really was. looked out of my window. and you lifted up the latch and came into the garden and stood looking up. And l knew you at once, so I followed you. And if you think, after that, I'm going back to bed without hearing all about everything, well, you've just got to think again. darling-and quite diff ferently."
 THIS was a Caroline he knew--a l sweet, imperious, gently obstin- ate Caroline. with a laugh in her voice and coaxing hand on his arm. Since she could speak at all he had been "Jim darling." He said heavily,
 "All the same, you'd better go."
 "As if I would! Jim-tell me- what's the matter?"
 "Go home, Caroline!"
 You're home" i.
 He pulled away from her roughly.
 Don't talk nonsense!" Then. on a changed note, "Caroline-go!"
 The laugh went out of her voice as she said,
 You know won't go. You know won't" s9e .sts @
 q know you ought to-"
 i've ought to do lots of things that we don't do. And this is one of the things that I'mspot. going to do. q
 She came down from the stepa and slid Q hand through his arm. Her voice dropped on to . deep lov- ing note.
 "It's no rse. darling--you,ve got to tell me. Better get 1t over. You can't make me go"
 T ought to be able to make you"
 Come and sit down." said Caro- line seriously. "Now. Jim-what have you been doing. and why did you let me think you had been drowned?" Her voice went adownzin. to despairing depths.
 Did you?"
 "Yes-in the Alice Arden. And there was an sos. about man in hospital.at E}ston who had lostEhis memory. and Iswentto see if it was you. and they said-Jim. they said that he had 5ust4been fetched away by his wife. That wasn't you?"
 "Yes." z
 How could 1t be you" 9e
 Tt was."
 How could 1t be?" |
 Jim -wae ssilentssH not know of any answer to her question.
 She went on in a trembling voice.
 T went to Ledlington. The nurse said you had my letter-a bit of it. the bit with my name-with Caro line--so Iwent. Hut it wasn't gou limit wasn't you"
 You went to Ledlington s'i
 T found the woman. She dropped a bill, and the nurse gave it to me, so found her. Her name was Riddell- Mrs. Riddell. She was the most hor. rible woman. But 1t was her husband who was in the hospital at Elston-- 1t wasn't you"
 Jim did not speak. He looked through the moonlight to the dark trees.
 asIt was her 'husband," Caroline said in whisper. "It couldn't be not her husband"
 He spoke then in loud, harsh voice.
 rShe says.I am" (Copyrioht. 19ss. 7. B. LippfncottsCoJ
 ~~.