The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-03-23

Judith, Miss Lane, this is Slim Sanford"
 At the name Judith looked up and smiled-"You're Clia's brother"
 And you're small Jude. came all the way from China to meet you and found you down in the Devil river country. Now that you're here I have to go down there T. never mind, I'll catch up with you some day"
 q hope you do," she returned sin cerely. She did hope so. if he were half as fascinating as his sister thought him, he would make an ideal guest for her home hers and Norman's she'd almost forgot ten Norman during the previous hours of work.
 She found herself recalling what Clia had told her of him, as he talked with her chief. Breath-taking adven- lures mostly. Clia was always ex- pecting a wire telling her he had cracked up in Timbuktu. He had spent a week on an arctic ice foe while Clia haunted the telegraph room awaiting word, and there was another time when he had come down inside some Chinese province to be captured by a doughty young war lord, who had later released him.
 Slim" Sanford looked up at her and smiled. No wonder the war lord had been lenient, thought Judith at his flash of white teeth and nice blue eyes, intensely blue. CHE thought of him again when U she reached her apartment, found her food closet bare (she'd had no time to shop since reaching town), the refrigerator turned off. AS far as anything edible was concerned. it was a desert island, and then the telephone rang.
 Judy :. good morning, Norman speaking, say dear, I've got things all fixed up with the architect. Can you have lunch with me, then go to his officer"
 Architect, thought Judith? Oh yes, there had been talk of house on a hill, oaks behind it, terraced lawn.
 Judy .. what's wrong?"
 Forgive me, Norman, I just got in from the office and I'm so tired Pm stupid, could you make that late afternoon?"
 Make it tomorrow, you poor youngster, had your breakfast?" : "No, I'm going right to bed. I'm sorry about the architect; 1t isn't that I'm not interested"
 Don't worry about that, dear, call me later"
 Judith nodded at the mouthpiece, laughed at her sleepy stupidity, said goodbye and went to her bed. Too tired to sleep, she tossed and turned, thought of Big Tom and his peculiar request, thought of Norman and his kindness.
 There came rap on the door and going to it she found Lige, with a tray in his hand-"M Mo'nin', Miss Lane, Mass Norman he sent roun' some brekfuss Delphy fix up. An Delphy she say you is to eat every bite"
 Judith surveyed the tray, steam ing cereal with plump dates poking their heads from the clotted cream, golden peaches, fiaked with sugar, thickly buttered toast and a pot of chocolate. Delphy had boasted she'd "fatten thet child"
 Overwhelmed with Norm n's thoughtfulness, Judy sat eating and thinking. Some men would have re- sented her lack of interest in her future home; resented her lack of responsiveness, but not Norman.
 Had she the right to marry such person while under bondage to Big Tom? Suppose he died right away E. foolish thought, the doc tor was probably trying to frighten him into taking a rest.
 That trip with it's intense heat had been trying on them all she'd call Dr.. Kelly and make sure, out of fairness to Norman. She reached for the telephone. called the num- Der. talked to his office girl and then to him.
 Miss Lane? Oh, yes, Big Toms secretary. I've just come from there, Miss Lane. they called me to his office."
 Judith listened to Tom Bevins' physician in alarm-"Did you say you were called to his office? Is he ill?" she cried.
 Hes all right now, but why did you let him work all night? My good ness, Miss Lane, you should know better"
 Why did .. let him?" gasped Judith. Doctor Kelly, do you think he'd mind me any quicker than he minded your"
 | (Copyrioht. I9S4. by Jeanne Boton.an)