The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-01-24
GODDESS
by Herbert Jensen

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 faintly bitter way of his that &C., tresses made lousy nurses and to get the hell out of there.
 Janice had given him verbal wal lop in return. She'd said with a placid detachment, "Pll hold the mask. Doctor, while you pour the chloroform. The mans just afraid I'll find out about his past when he talks going under. But he's not near ly so bad as he thinks he is. He'll probably sing psalms. I'll stay"
 Vaguely Frank remembered that Janice had been splendid while they had worked over the unconscious Spin. Delft. capable. yet unobtrusive, she had been invaluable. The meta morphosis from skilled actress to the subordinate but efficient part of doctors assistant was amazing be- cause it was absolute.
 Frank and Janice walked from the hotel room where lay Spin. to the detached cottage that was to be the girls for the night. 3s
 Light from the Casino slashed into the mild sky. Music from the hidden patio followed them as they walked; bursts of distant laughter and of untitled conversation were synco- pated by the sound of ivory balls rattling about the spinning wheels in the gaming rooms. The moon was a newly minted silver coin flung high above them.
 The world. to Frank. was a very good place to be ali-'e in. Janice was safe-it was enough; explana tions could come another time. He was in love with her. he realized with sud den conviction Spin Winslow's cyni- cisms about Janice Rents ambi. tions. the vague memory of the non marriage clause of her contract with Consolidated, her wealth, her beauty, her aura of unattaina bilty had shrunk this night but she re- mained. walking by his side. clinging a bit tiredly to his arm. the weary. sweet girl with whom he was in love. A T the doorway of her cottage. \ she turned her face. bit white in'the moonlight, to Frank. Her voice held the huskiness of fatigue when she said: s-st
 Good night. Frank. You've been such a dear Oh. don't mean that. How absurdly trivial words are! I mean"
 Frank caught her in his arms. She did not resist but lay there an in stant. looking at him. Her eyes were wide-the deep blue of them had darkened to black. They hinted. meltingly. of surrender
 Frank kissed her. Her lips against his were cool and detached-a curi- ous aloofness that caused Frank, in brief flash, to think of the figurines of the Virgin he'd seen in remote inches of lost churches found in for gotten iungles. .n Did he imagine it?-or did for a fleeting instant her lips tremble against his? Abruptly she was out of his arms and her hand on the door-knob. Frank half raised his arms.
 Please .." she said. "Pm very tired" Was it fright he saw in her eyes?-no-but 1t was an odd timid- ity. rl'm sorry" She seemed to say that to herself. Frank. forget that, will you. please" Her breast rose and fell with quick, short breaths. but the alarm had gone from her eyes. 8ss
 "I love you. Janice" said Frank. The words were husky in his throat. Janice put up her arm in gesture of half protest. Suddenly she laughed. a little trill that ran through half an octave. The sound of it seemed to throw cloak of re straint between them. Franks arms dropped to his side. The girls slen. der figure took on new poise. She said hurriedly: We mustn't be silly. You must go now iou- Oh. how mournful you look!. Her little laugh broke on a half note. s4
 Swiftly she drifted against Frank. She shook his arms in small ges- ture of good-humored protest. She stood on tip-toe. Lightly her lips brushed his-a fieeting feather oI fragrance. then she was gone. But she was not gone from Franks mind. He stood. staring al the door and rapidly running back through the strange trail of events that had. brought them, to this. spot There were so many chances thal they might never have met. Suppose foy one, that he had not madly de cided to follow. her car that day ir Hollywood. Or suppose that he had not telephoned her house this very evening" ,,ss tIs xass
 He half raised his hand to toucf his lips, then turned and walked back to the hotel. He wassint ta glow of anticipation, bemused and ye
 clear upon one point, His regard fol
 Janice. s ss .t .t4sgs s3s
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 Tomorrow. Mybero makes a dc.