The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-01-31

Lander merely turned his back on
the poker-spined Miss Teetzel.
'Are you going to stand for stuff
like this?" he demanded, towering
over me with a quick flame OF IN
dignation lighting up his eyes.
Behind me could sense the last
boat Of hope burning up on the coast
of desperation. knew, when l
spoke, that I was issuing an ulti-
maturn.
Il don't intend to-" quietly an
nounced. "a
Miss Teetzel founced out Of the
room.
Lander, when we were alone,
stood little closer over me.
81 got you into this" he said,
s'and it's up to me to get you out
of it,"
was conscious of his bigness as
l let my gaze lock with his. My
laughter, I'm afraid, was a little
reckless.
There's nothing to be done about
it." told him. But deep in the
ashes of disaster could feel a small
glow of happiness at the thought
that he was there to lean on.
''Why not come back with me-"
ne finally inquired.
"What good would that ,do?" I
said.
Lander, after looking down at me
for what must have been full half
minute of silence, walked to the win
dow and then returned to my side.
''It wouldn't do any good" he
said, with just a trace of the color
ebbing from his face. cts all hap
pening little too late"
whats happening too late?" I
asked him.
"Our coming together" he said.
"There are things" he went on,
mot easily talked about"
''But we can at least be honest
with each other" / announced, for
instinct had already told me what
he was cropping toward.
eyes, we must be honest" he
agreed. And the unhappiness in his
eyes made my heart beat q little
faster.
$50 it's time" said, .that we
both came down to EARTH"
'sWhat do you mean by that?" ex-
acted my grim-jawed companion.
81 saw the girl back on the Sc
attic wharf, the girl you said good
by to. And I can understand why
you must play fair with her."
Lander's glance came slowly back
to my face.
'I've been engaged to her." he
said, quite simply, "for over two
years now
If reached for a chair back, to
steady myself, I at least managed
to laugh a little.
"That's fine," ! said, with my chin
up.
Elmer" he echoed, plainly puz-
zled by that lifting lightness OF mine.
"Of course" maintained. "For
now we can 60 on being good
friends, without any worry or threat
of-of complications. !"
''Can WEI" he asked as his eyes
once more rested on my face.
"Good pals" / cried, ito the end
of the trail. So let's shake hands on
it, like two old-timers.
He failed to observe, as we shook
hands, that had to swallow lump
in my throat.
would you mind telling me-" I
said when that was over, "just who
she isl"
It wasn't easy for him, of course.
But he faced it with a forlorn sort
of casualness.
"She's Barbara Trumbull," he ex-
planned. stJohn Trumbull's daugh-
ter. We practically grew up togeth-
err"
'Then you must have great deal
in common"
He studied my face, as though in
search of second meanings.
1--WE had," he finally acknowl-
edged.
"But you talk of fighting her ia
ther," I reminded him. ~
"And I intend to fight him" said
the e-shouldered man beside me.
"But she'd feel things like that
shouldn't count between u.s."
When spoke, after thinking this
over, was able to keep my voice
steady.
"How do you feel about it?" I
asked.
II can't answer that" was Lam
der's slightly retarded reply. "You
see, she's coming to Alaska to get
things Strengthened out. She doesn't
agree with her father that I've been
disloyal to the Trumbulls."
That also gave me a moment Of
thought.
Then she must be very fond Of
you," heard myself saying.
To that, however, Lander offered
no answer.
CHAPTER vi
Asa-sA - -