The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-04-06
Chapter 22 MATHlLE AGhlu

MATHlLE AGAlll
 MATHS .. Mathis j.. Just { 1'A minute" said Judith as if try irs to recall the name. "Oh yss row remember, he vas the gentle rlan who left town so hurriedly when the last election scandal was tsing investigated somethins about buying blocks of votes from itinerant oil field workers"
 Why =. why ." sputtered Scathborne.
 You'll forgive me if I'm wrong but it seems to me heard some thing about a matter of five thou sand dollars passing between Ma this and some gentleman with 2 name similar to yours. Lampcre. believe. provided the money for the"
 Mrs. Dale, didn't come here to be insulted," snapped Scathborne.
 There are nicer places, arent there," Judith said consolingly, but suggest to MT. Lampere that next time he send someone not labeled with a cancelled check"
 Are you psychic?" demanded Justin Cunard pleasantly. in the ei- lence which followed the slamming door.
 
 "No," Judith laughed with the others, but I have a friend on . newspaper, which is practically the same thing. She came to the door with me and recognized our departed guest. However" and now she spoke seriously. it means, gentle men that Lampere will not hesitate to plant his men in ttr midst to say. or to cause dissension."
 "He wss more subtle" said one of the new members, "he tried to minimize your importance in such gentle way we scarcely recognized his intentions"
 The rest of the afternoon passed swiftly, and shortly before sundown, Judith drove to the airport where Slim Sanford awaited her. Judith. seeing the tall Texan, thought he seemed simmer and browner than ever. Eveh his smile, which usual ly showed in such a brilliant flash, seemed strained
 Hello small-Jude, ready to trust your heart n hand to me and my ship?"
 Any time. any place." Judith re- sponded. "A
 "If thought you meant that" re torted Sanford, I'd head west then south to neat little spot near Oax- aca where there are no fortunes. platinum blondes, nor heartaches.
 Did you mention Oaxaca or heaven?" queried Judith. breathless- ly, puzzled by his manner.
 Tt would be both .. hop in" He helped her into the tiny cabin, smih ed his queer, tired smile and slid in to the pilots seat. Af
 The motor roared, sputtered, then to the rhythm of three motors talk ing their beat the ship taxed down the runway. nosed up and out.
 JUDITH was on her way to Nor o man. She had no other thought save subconscious enjoyment of the flight. As child she had always had the highest, most dangerous swings in her various neighbor- hoods, and with her father had de lighted to spin across some chasm in cable carriage. suspended above rocky gorges by a web-like line.
 Now her enjoyment was double for she was on her way to her hus- band. She would drive back with him. They would stop at the white farmhouse on the Houston highway for their dinner as they had on their honeymoon, and there would be old fashioned flowers, stalks and cinna- mon pinks along the paths. and fire flies would hold their tiny lanterns against the screened windows. Only of course. it was too early for cinna- mon pinks and hollyhocks.
 Slim Sanford looked back, saw the smile on her face and switched off the motor so they seemed to float in the sunset-"Small Jude." he said "Tm sore tempted"
 She wrinkled her nose at him and pointed below. Galveston lay there The long island, thick at it's east ern end and thin at the western, looked like an exclamation point.
 He nodded and a few moments later they had come to a smooth landing. m wait here until ten o'clock. in case you want to go back" :" he said, as he helped her into cab Meet me here or telephone"
 Well .. well all right" Judith was positive she wouldn't need him, but he looked as wistful as tall sun-bronzed man could look.