The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-01-24
Chapter 12 THE RETURN

FRANK glanced about him. The Il driver-the man he had struck with his gun-was gone. The other two men were not in view. The non descript car looked oddly desolate with it's gaping doors.
 He drowned. considering. His i'm pulse was to follow one of the men. He realized that the capture of one or all of them would effectively stop the peculiar and mysterious perse cution of Janice Kent. That they were serious about their business he did not doubt.
 Ruefully he put his hand to his side where his assailant's bullet had gouged the cloth. But Winslow's arm needed attention. And certainly Janice must be on the verge of hys- teria from the ordeal which she had undergone.
 "I'll roll the stones back off the road" he said. Spin. you climb in lH6 DdCh Wltu JouiSC- ilO tuihCu to the girl We had an accident. His arms bad. You'll have to make it as easy for him as you can during the trip back to Caliente. The road looks pretty bad if this is sample. Ex- plantations later"
 He rolled the rocks from the road and got in behind the wheel. He sue ceeded in turning the car on the mar rowsroad. and headed back up the coast. He drove an hour in silence. busted with his thoughts. During that time they passed one lone ear going in the opposite direction.
 As the headlights flashed upon them, Frank looked back. One of the girls arms was around the flyers shoulder: the other was braced against the inevitable lurching of the automobile. Her glance met his briefly; her lips parted in a warm smile.
 Frank turned back to the business Oi LII A liiC SHis ohC III q hti lion. She was reacting magnificent ly to the situation. A quick throb Of exultation surged in his breast as he thought of how she had clung that instant to him when he had taken her from the car. 5
 He felt his face flus:i with sensa. tion of delight strange to him when lie remembered that she had pressed her cheek against his coat. There was no doubt that she had done so; to Frank there was no question as to why she had done so. Allowing for a natural impulse of gratitude and, of nervous reaction, still she could have thanked him otherwise. .& That she had not thanked him but had made that small gesture. led him to one conclusion; the, gesture had been one of affection. He loved Janice Kent--of that he was sure: that she returned his regard seemed incredible. but he was sure that she did. N s
 As swain Frank realized that he had much to learn. Lurking in the background of his mind was a small goblin of thought that there might be something elementally wrong with his reasoning-if the emotions he felt could be called reason-since subconsciously he appreciated that all lovers believe that because of the very intensity of their emotion it must be returned in kind.
 b The wish is father to the thought. But Janice had pressed her cheek against his coat. as <. He swung the nose of the car into the paved highway and headed for the stone columns that fianked the grounds of Agua Caliente. The tires crackled over the graveled natio. He drew up before the hotel entrance
 "Tll arrange for cottage for Janice," he said. land get a saw bones for you. Spin. III phone My berg inside"
 To an attendant he gave quick in structions. and passed into the hotel THE house doctor had come and
 l gone. Spin was resting easily There was areek of ether in the air I The doctor had diagnosed a dislo cated shoulder. instHcting Frank te hold his friend--so. while he pressed in the joint.
 Janice insisted that she stay 1T ] the room and help. The doctor hat demurred. Frank expostulated. ant Spin himself had told her in tha