The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-03-31
gro reason. gladly. where is it!"

!, "To reason, gladly, where IS IL! Norman's dark eyes were glowing in the freight, his chin had :utted forward with Scotch stubbornness -"you'n admit he kept you work ing all night the night after his stroke. Was that an evidence of sanity
 | "After what you've just said, Nor man, it was evidence of more than sanity .. it was sheer genius. Only man facing death could have had | the foresight to do what Big Tom | Bevins did that night"
 q suppose that you, a twenty four-year-o old"
 "Mateel calls me an office girl" supplied Judith bitterly.
 Leave Ma'teel ou. of this." snapped Norman.
 "Try to leave her out," laughed Judith. You were saying, that twenty-four-year-old office girl pre- sumes, is the next word isn't it?"
 Alright presumes to know more than brilliant. tried and proven engineers and lawyers"
 That's what you really believe" she said with sudden conviction, then. Norman, do you see what this is doing to us?" ,,tt ha ranlioI arnSa opd walked to the door. "as long as Lige is taking the week off, instead of the day I'll have to go down and look at that furnace"
 Judith walked slowly upstairs, undressed mechanically and slid into bed. She felt exhausted. The quick exhilaration of anger had burned out. leaving her numb.
 Down to the west the full moon began its ascent blocked by the oak tree before the window. Slowly it eased into view. seemingly climb ing from limb to limb. lNTORMAN would come up. they " would talk it over and regret their furry of temper. He would come up before the moon reached the limb with the queer hump. But it 1attened it's silver surface against the filigree of topmost boughs and sailed on into the clear blue. with no sound from below. Judith was asleep when Norman hair rumpled. eyes blinking even in the soft glow of t.e bed lamp. did appear. She didn't see him stand land stare down at her. a baffled troubled look on his face. Even had she seen the look, she couldn't have known how much like a child she appeared to the man.
 In deference to her new dignity as matron she had let her hail grow and it lay spread in becoming disorder on her pillow. Her eyes were tear stained
 Her body. fuller now and health fly pink. due to Delphy's untirina care, lay clad in maize yellow paja mas. one foot and one arm hanging over the edge of the bed. Carefully Norman moved them back, pulled the covers high. then went to the chair before the window.
 They spoke quietly at breakfast the apprehensive Delphy and Lige hoYering around like two solicitous black birds.
 Shall call at Neville's for your" Norman asked as he was leaving.
 "No." Judith answered, "as long as you belong to the firm retained by the Bevins women. it would be less embarrassing for you if l come as Big Toms stenographer, rather than your wife"
 Just as you say" He kissed her and left, and Judith felt an unrea. soning desire to weep because he hadn't insisted upon standing by her through the coming ordeal.
 Judith was afterwards to wonder how she managed to live through Poppy's luncheon. Her beruffled frock of dark bluish green, and pert small hat, won the hearty approval of Poppy's guests.
 Look as though you'd been clip ped from the top of candy box" one guest remarked.
 She thought of this later, for she hadn't had time to rush home and change and was forced to attend the board meeting in her party | frock. and there was small comfort in the smartness of her ensemble as she saw universal disapproval in the faces of the men gathered there.
 Even the courage inspired by Judge Morgan, who accompanied her. was dimmed by the sight of Mathile Bevins in deep mourning at one end of the table. fianked by Morton Lampere on one side and by her husband, Norman Dale.
 Preliminaries over. a meeting of the stockholders was called and Lampere. their elected chairman arose.
 "Mrs. Dale." he began. "prior to your coming, the board of directors held closed meeting. They came to a conclusion about a very vital matter and wish to lay 1t before YOU for decision, are you ready to hear it?"
 | (Copyrioht. f9sl. bu Jeanne Bo,pmnn)