Show 17 0 1 a 0 4 a 5 BY EMILIE 19 service CHAPTER the commissioner showed lymp torris of apoplexy you could be jailed failed for holding back testimony martha samp bristled sakes flakes alive could I 1 because I 1 waited for Ms hale to tell herself ches been a loyal wife ashes been through hell without whimpering I 1 knew when S she he got to thinking shed straighten things out the worlds just bubbling bub blin with stories of mans loyalty to man but there so much uch said about womans comans I 1 loyalty to woman an letting hertell her tell her own story atory was my idea of loyalty to her suppose she told she did she but I 1 provided against that when ive read about trials its seemed to me that testimony re rehashed hashed months after the crime took place be very accurate the morning after the sho otin I 1 wrote down everything id heard and seen sealed scaled it took it to the radio man he stamped it with place an and d date just as he does letters that go out here it is she handed the commissioner an envelope he turn turned ed it over in his hand conferred with the deputy rose vy my associate and I 1 agree that the late joe hale met his death by accident the inquest is closed all you little doughboys dough boys come and get your chow I 1 the ringing call of the bugle pierced bruce harcourte Har courts absorption as he left the samp cabin would he find janice at the office or would she have gone to luncheon she had slipped away directly after the commissioner ha had pronounced a verdict of accidental shooting paxton immaculately attired with deep lines of exhaustion about his eyes and an apparent stiffness in every joint had come in had announced an afternoon departure he had offered to take anyone who wanted to go back to the states millicent had been tearfully eager to get away mallory advised expert surgical treatment for jimmy chester janice was hooding her typewriter as he entered the office her cheek still bore faintly pink evidence of blots mercurial temperament but her eyes and smile were radiant now that the cyclone of excitement has passed over I 1 hope to accomplish something harcourt picked up a letter le ater from his desk this is alaska you tnt expect life here to be I 1 like ike life in new york its a different story in this wilderness Pax tons yacht goes out this afternoon with mrs hale chester and the commissioner aboard I 1 want you to go with them amazed consternation wiped the happy radiance from her face 11 it II on ned Pax tons boat you advise that two days ago I 1 would not have permitted it but he has proved himself trustworthy this letter is is from your brother billy I 1 wrote him after I 1 discovered the identity of jimmy delevan ive told you before that I 1 will not let you spend a win winter here As soon as I 1 can get leave I 1 will join you and well well we will talk things over I 1 will cable billy to meet the yacht at seattle 11 just like tha tharl till her eyes were brilliant with anger he could see her throat contract you trouble to cable billy im not going tubby grant hired me to work tor for the outfit I 1 shall keep my position here you talk about my going back as though it were as simple as setting out for dinner and dance da n ce how am I 1 to earn my living when I 1 get to the states it so easy to pick up a job perhaps you think ill 11 live on my brother absolutely cotil indignation swept him like a red h hot ot wave my wife does not need 11 job have half my salary more it you need it your wifel im not your wife im merely a companion on trial money figure in that agreement do you think I 1 would accept it from you you cant give roe rne even understanding when you made good g my silly lie be to ned paxton I 1 saw myself as I 1 was always a 8 the mercy of rny my imagination magin atlon I 1 determined that thai I 1 would do my utmost to make you happy I 1 know then that it if only wait ed you would have married millicent hale barill Ja rill it that whitens s your face you can have her now better go 90 along in the yacht yourself and start art annulment proceedings once you told me that when you back oa behind the dog team and saw the ine H house through the falling snow it t seemed like coming home although you knew that only a husky busky and a houseboy house boy waited for you t behind id those lighted windows I 1 had thought that next winter you night be glad to find findle me there too y mistake 11 lov lovely the she conjured of her wely seu self waiting for him in to come through the filled snow darkness let his h harcourte Har courts blood afire with au all H lie strength ath he resisted her charm arol dept kept his voice under rigid con this s that afternoon 1 means s that you wi will g go lil 1 breath she was a straggling sob avy teeth n caught her lips PS between her from the threshold sho ile de fled him iceberg Ice bergi I 1 ill go but only from the H house now that the one person to be I 1 impressed mpr essed by convention is leaving I 1 will return to argus of the hundred eyes and miss mary be glad to have me back with them grant pushed open the door thank heaven youve come tubby you almost lost your secretary your superior officer was giving her notice dont ruffle up like a turkey cock she accept it the door closed behind her before grant emerged from a stupor of surprise new orders for us came by plane this morning no bridge building this winter retrenchment all along the line we are to push the tracks from here south while the weather holds the crowned heads are all e excited about pulpwood pulp wood possibilities then keep the repair shops at headquarters humming till spring headquarters for us all janice ja nice W will ill be crazy about the winter here well teach her to pilot to handle a dog team harcourt crossed to his desk 1 I want her to go out on Pax tons boat boat with the others this afternoon 11 says you youl the words bubbled with indignation granted youre abow a wow of an engineer as a married man youre a total loss he miss martha he demanded as the elder miss samp entered the office he what I 1 heard you shout in mr tubby as I 1 came from Ms hales cabin ashes pretty near packed up an dropped in to see if you were bryin to talk with fairbanks without a wire grants grievance was too acute to permit of appreciation of her humor shout when you hear that the chief wants janice to join the party on Pax tons yacht sakes alive has the excitement turned his brain miss samp dropped into a chair course t any of my business any more than mr Tub bys but why are you se sending that child away mr br bruce u ce you have been so kind to janice that it Is your business miss martha I 1 dont want her to e experience x peri ence the hardships of a winter here remember what this life did to millicent hale martha samps gnarled fingers stroked the glossy coat of the black cat circling in her lap she regarded harcourt with shrewd eyes did to her I 1 it made a woman of her it think back she came here just an ordinary spoiled flighty young married girl at first she fretted then she kinder found herself never complained she developed the heart the endurance of f a noble woman and how did it end you mean about her kinder fly in off the handle at the last ive got a pretty good idea of what caused it she got to deanin on you mr bruce you were all her husband when janice came along so pretty an gay an attractive she got to brogdin bro odin on her troubles trouble s an th inkin life played favorites vo rites an something snapped she any notion of hurtin joe course she have threatened him but who do a fool thing or two in the course of a life it restore your faith in human nature to find an officer of the law with the common sense to recognize aa accident when he sees one an not try to make a criminal out of a female who enough se sense rise to leave a revolver li hangin angin in its holster martha samps argument seethed like an undercurrent in harcourte Har courts mind during the afternoon as he packed for chester sent messages helped the commissioner with his reports not until she came to the shore to embark in the launch which was to take her to the yacht did he speak to millicent hale her hand clung to his her violet eyes were tear filled 1 I wish I 1 were the one to stay with you bruce he smiled and shook his head you have forgotten the long dark winter im willing to bet that with the first sight of the lights of vancouver be thanking all the gods that be that youre back in civilization side by side harcourt and grant watched the launch as it shot like a brown streak for the yacht indians and eskimos stood in groups on the shingle behind them section bosses and engineers with unconsciously wistful faces waited for the modern mariner to hoist the anchor janice was leaning against the 11 house eyes on the pale blur which was gliding into an opaline mist her long lashes were wet but she faced him with gay bravado sorry not to have been moved out before you came back but pasca was so busy helping the travelers off that he had no time for me he caught her by the shoulders youre not going back to the samp cabin you will stay in my house she defied him flippantly big chief 1 heap bossy 1 you tried to push me out of headquarters and now you are dictating as to where I 1 shall live I 1 am working for tubby grant not for you his hands tightened jan my dear dont you know what it means to love a person so much that you would tear your heart out if you thought it best for her he cleared his voice of huskiness 1 I know that you are forcing yourself to stay triumphing over what you think is a fear complex what I 1 know to be im imagination agi nation I 1 know also that if you yop stay here you are bound to be miserably unhappy angry tears drenched the eyes which made them think of bronze pansies how do you know that I 1 would be unhappy you and tubby and the samp girls think mrs hale a marvel of sweetness and light because she carried on why she it was her job you talk about love A lot you know about it I 1 can see you following a person hall half across the world not a chancel chance I 1 danl the incredulous whisper brought her eyes to his even his lips whitened jan he caught her up in his arms kicked open the door his laugh was a caress this time ill carry my bride across the threshold as big strong men do in the movies and points south he set her on her feet gently raised her chin till her head rested against his shoulder demanded softly all right with you beautiful eyes valiant lovely color tinting her soft skin she answered with an unsteady attempt at raillery 1 I never did think much of that trial companionship idea of yours if you care carol caret if I 1 caret in a fury of passion he kissed her eyes the hollow in her throat her mouth kissed her vehemently thoroughly said with a husky reckless laugh how I 1 care 00 tubby grant pushed open the door first call for tea in the din ing cart carl you his voice dwindled to a gurgle he blinked something suspiciously like tears from his wistful green eyes with a softly breathed praise be to allahl allah t he gently closed the door from the outside THE END |