The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-03-23
Chapter II
INSTRUCTIONS

wasn't joking. She had never seen him as serious.
 Big Tom" she asked, "are you planning another trip to Washing ton, or abroad?'
 "No, Judy" he answered quietly, "a longer trip than either. This morning after I had learned what Lampere was contemplating what he had tried to do. something snapped inside. The doctor called it a stroke. know better. He gives me no hope. l may die at any mo ment. Is it going to be too much Tor me to ask you to carry on?"
 Judith had been trained in a stern school. Because of this she accepted Tom Bevins statement that he might die at any moment, with no more emotion than grave smile.
 q understand what you mean, now. Big Tom. I'll be proud to carry on for you. If it will make you any happier I'll relieve you of every de- tail right now. Not that l believe your doctor, because" she said brightening, Il think he was just trying to frighten you into taking a rest"
 "He did suggest a rest" Tom Bev- ins admitted He said if l had the sense of jack rabbit. I'd board the Naiad. cruise around and live to be a hundred. And then he said in fair ness to Mrs. Bevins, Ma'teel and my firm, should arrange my estate so my sudden passing would not make them suffer more than grief.
 "Why don't you take his advice? If you trust me as much as you say you do, I could come here"
 "It's not that 1 don't trust you Judy. but don't intend shifting any burdens while I can carry my load There's going to be big battle over the Rio Diablo and if have to die, I'll die fighting that battle. Oh, and Judy, nothing about this agreement of ours, to Norman" t
 q was just going to ask you if you didn't want me to delay my mar. riage."
 "No, indeed, hurry it along"
 q don't understand, you ask me not to tell him"
 Judith. Norman is junior mem Der of Dale, Lampere and Morrison, He is working with two brilliant, successful men, men whom his ia ther admired tremendously. We can't expect Norman to accept our condemnation of Lampere. He's the kind who must find out for himself You'll have to be patient with him. Judy, he's slow, but he's sure .. now to work"
 Judith, looking back, thought of that night as a fantastic dream From time to time she would straighten from her task, walk to the water cooler and pause at the window to look out on the darkened city. Each time the lights in the win dows of other buildings were fewer alternate street lights were turned off, display signs darkened. H T one o'clock, remembering she \ had had no dinner and feeling sure Bevins had completely forgot ten food, she telephoned the Rice grill.
 Standing beside the window wait ing for the messenger, she saw 2 late moon leering drunkenly ovel the Texas building. and thought O. other moons she had seen on engi neering trips with her father, tho white shaft of frozen light over tht snow crusted Wasatch range, tho slow ambling sphere with it's silhou cite of black frs, working up iron the Cascades.
 Piping hot oyster stew revived thu spirits of Big Tom, and he inter spersed the rest of their work witt 1 anecdotes of early expeditions ht had made.
 And then, gradually, the building' outside their window became blacl blocks piled up by careful hant against grey curtain.
 Shortly after the first sunligh slanted across Tom Bevins' desk, h, announced himself as satisfied. tele phoned someone at the Rice, thel sat back to await the messenger h, had called.
 I'm sending these deeds down t, Rio Mar by air. This young fellow telephoned can be trusted; he ha his own ship too. This pile, Judith goes into safety deposit box, here Drop in the bank sometime tomor