The daily independent., 1937-07-27
ETHE CAPTIVEI'BRIDE"
l. By 6ARRE77 WLLoUGH6Y

)UCH8T
| and dropping them in the waste
basket. Captain Page wanted t Q
buy River House. Bourne had told
him, There's room for only one
outfit on the Stikine." If she sold
her fathers business to Page, she
would be placing in his hands the
winning card in the game these
two rivermen were going to play.
The thought brought her con-
sciousneSS of new power not
money power, but something
sweeter and more Intoxicating,
with a hint of ruthlesSneSs in 1t.
The power over men known only
to those women who live in the
North where white women are
few.
Dawn was breaking over the
cottonwood grove that lay dell
cately gray-green and miSted with
dew. 1t was light enough to read
water. The boat had already Slip
ned away from the bank and was
swinging out into the stream.
Denny. still fully dressed, step
ped from the closeneSS of her
stateroom and walked along the
deserted salon deck to the for
ward railing. She stood there
drinking in the early freshness as
the Maid moved up the channel.
While she stood there it seemed
as if the rising sun had baniShed
every phantom of her own dark
night. She felt herself abSolved,
regenerated. made as pure as the
morning itself.
"Hello!" came a pleased, sur
prised voice from behind her.
You're the first passenger up
this morning"
She swung about to see ReVelry
Bourne. freshly shaved and very
blond looking in a thin white tur-
tlenecked sweater and gray Slacks.
He did not wait for her reply but
turned toward the shoreline, flung
out his arms, and took a deep,
long breath.
Just move back them thar
mountingS, LaWd!" he exclaimed,
with boyish eXuberanCe. Move
'em back, I say, and give me room
to spread ma wings! Gee, Miss
Keith" He swung back to face
her again, his face radiant with
health and youth. Doesn't it
make you feel just like that? How
about coming up to the pilothouse
with me? I'm going to take the
wheel for a while. I'll have Boom
send up some hot coffee and but
tered toast"
His casual friendlineSs, after
last night. was incredible. Denny
could scarcely believe he was the
same man with whom she had
known that Shattering interval in
the grove. He was as protean and
disarming as his Stikine river.
1t seemed suddenly rather ridic-
ulouS to maintain a diSpleaSed
aloofnesS when his natural atti-
tude made the happening of last
night of no moment.
She answered him with a cheer
full unconcern that matched his
own. All right, Captain, I'll join
you in the pilothouse in five min
uteS."
She went back to her state
room to freShen up her costume,
which gave evidence of her Sleep
ness night. She didn't change, lest
he suspect that she had not been
to bed since he saw her last.
1t was not until she was running
the comb through her dark hair
that it occurred to her she might
have been too easy with this
Northerner. This, certainly. was no
way to live up to her determina-
ton to avoid the man.
"Oh, WE'LL" she decided, I'll go
up there and show him that can
play this casual game of forget
fulness as we'll as he"
She looked in the mirror at her
spirited face. meeting the long
lashed green eyes that gazed back
at her. But understand, you're
not forgetting!" she admoniShed
herself. When you reach Tarni-
gan you are going to show Captain
Revelry Bourne mhat it means to
offend - the mistress of River
House"
Shortly after lunch the nurses
came running to Denny'S state
room with the news that the Maid