The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-01-27
Chapter 15 LANGToN AGAIN

lANGTON AGAIN
 FINALLY Janice got Winslow on the wire.
 Spin" she said breathlessly. "It's about Frank. He was here and -"
 You mauled him plenty. He came to see me- Winslow's voice was re- mote. faintly accusing. Franks a swell guy. He's not like us. He can't take it ... yet. You shouldn't have -"
 "Oh, Spin, know! l know! I've tried to get him on the phone. but he's out or won't answer l don't know what to do. think I'm in love -I like him very much. -"
 She heard Winslow's disgusted snort. He said in an even voice that was dimly bitter. "You don't know how you feel. You haven't got a legitimate emotion with you it comes in cans. It's your mess. ] hope you love him. hope somehow he marries you. And then 1 hope hen beat hell out of you!"
 She heard the receiver slam Tears sprang to her eyes. She threw herself on the chdiSe tongue and sobbed. It was two o'clock in the morning when she made her last call. There was no answer.
 In complete exhaustion she fell asleep at last upon the chdise longue Her final impression was the shadow of her guard who patrolled the lawn her employers insurance that his star would not be moIested.
 FRANK had walked aimlessly | away from Janice Rents house with no particular destination in mind. He was sorely hurt and be wildered. All that old basic shy ness that had been-before he knew Janice-knit in his attitude toward women. had returned in full effect.
 Until this moment the relation of the sexes had seemed very simple and uncomplicated. Women had certain outstanding characteristics: love of home and of children: they were gentle and dependent. One asked the girl he loved to marry him. and she accepted or declined: that was all.
 He knew he loved Janice: he be. lieved that she returned this emo. tion at least in part. The test had failed; to him there was no re- course.
 His walk brought him near Spin Winslow's place. He saw the stunt flyer for brief intervak At first he made no reference to Janice. He simply told his friend that he was going away; he was going to prowl about on his own account to see if he could discover what had really happened to Bill Langton. But Spin was not deceived. "If at first you don't succeed" he said Quixzically. "take another slap on the shoot. You get used" a
 Franks face flushed dull red. He could not prevent the uncon- scious jerking of his hand toward his cheek. Y {
 The flyer whistled softly. Sorry. old man." he said gently. Didn't mean I'm a clumsy fool" It didn't matter, Frank told him in dull voice. He'd just asked Ja- nice to marry him and she had re fused him. ?f 'Icame to tell you I'm going away, Spin. I can't stick it out. Yellow. maybe: but can't take this sort of beating. Icouldn't work on the set with her for months-seeing her. talking with her, thinking about her. =. :" ] He took up his hat and walked to the door. "So long, Spin. Explain to Myberg I'm called south. Happy landings" Y
 Later he found himself walking deserted streets. He was uncon- scious of time. In the froth of his memory were dim jungle paths. men, tai scenes of warm washed beaches spotted with lavender shadows of leaning coco-palms. Finally he went to his apartment.
 It was very late. He lay down on his bed without troubling to un. dress. He would wait for daylight. Closing his eyes be hoped to conjure iup thoughts of salt on his lips. and that he sailed over warm seas into tropic dusk. But Janice's face smiled at him. She was in his arms. He caught the fragrance of her hair: he tasted the daintiness of her lips. z } With a smothered curse he sat up- right.
 He packed his trunk and his bag. The sun was an hour over the hori- zon when he phoned for a taxi. By ten he was installed in a Pullman sis frG 1Ast r 2