Show 0 t 99 e 0 0 YV of by JOSEPH me mc CIO CORPT P 11 W N 1 1 1 11 THE STORY SO FAR larry cutter was attracted to jacqueline anthony pretty public stenographer it at the hotel Ug baynejr Bay Lynear near when he heard that she he was wa interested la in reading about travel gravel and adventure atter after watching her lor for sev ev larry cutter made a peremptory gesture with Ws pipe at jacqueline anthony as she stared at him in wide eyed bewilderment he leaned still nearer speaking sneaking in a low impetuous voice youre thinking one of two things he insisted that im as fresh as paint and you should call the house detective or that ive some idea im humorous either way youre wrong I 1 meant what I 1 said then and ive never talked marriage to a woman before excuse me mr cutter jacque line spoke in a flat little voice if you have a letter you wish written 1 I will take it otherwise I 1 am busy never mind the letter it can wait so can your pirates ive simply got to tell you he broke oft off to scowl at a small rain coated figure that appeared in the doorway the intruder was looking inquiringly at the little stenographer oh mr dennisonn there was no question about elines pleasure at seeing the newcomer ill be finished here in a second larry rose quickly theres no hurry whatever about my work he announced blandly take care of this gentleman miss anthony ill drop back when youre not busy larry brushed past the man in in the raincoat and retreated to his favorite chair in the lobby when it was time to go back and square things with jack jack anthony how in the world would he make her know that he a common cad that he loved her that he had fallen in love with her that first day larry believed that profoundly the same as he believed that jack anthony was going to love him in return or hed know the reason why there was no reason why he could not win her jack would listen she had to listen she must hello there was derm dennison leaving the girl was sitting there re alone now she was looking into the e distance so very small and helpless h I 1 before he should lose courage larry strode purposefully to the goal of his desires he entered closed the door gently and helped himself to his former seat jacqueline regarded him without the slightest display of interest or resentment im back he be hazarded you have a letter at all came the quiet accusation ant you let me talk to you just a minute afterwards well you wont see me again if you say so please go on there was no encouragement in the permission thanks ive told you my name does it mean anything at all to you no it but it was pretty well known in this part of the country once im speaking about my father john cutter he was a scientist there was no reply now this is going to be a strain on your credulity would it surprise you to know that I 1 consider myself a gentleman oh no 1 I get it dont blame you in the least larry conceded gloomily its one of many things ill have to prove it may take time the same as proving that im sane and yet I 1 am also im thirty five and weigh one hundred and seventy I 1 drink a bit in company you seem to be up on kipling Yi pling he said there was hope for such a man and I 1 smoke as you see profession engineer of sorts just a few of the tiresome details he apologized only silence greeted this effort ever run across the val dor in your book wanderings miss anthony yes it came out with obvious reluctance then you know what a wilderness is there or has been until lately you still have to go in on foot and pack your supplies unless youre an ultramodern ultra modern prospector and ride a plane well ive been there off and on for over two years Y ears somewhat to the north of the main diggings however primitive enough to suit anybody 1 I imagine so yes maam but its worth it if you find something I 1 was lucky myself installment TWO eral days day irom from a vantage point in tho th lobby he be fell in love with her ber in an n effort to meet jack as jacqueline Is 1 called he dictated an imaginary letter to roy boy allen alien noted arche archaeologist archeologist at As he had planned this induced her to talk ft 4 0 gold the firm trace of interest some good enough showing for me to dispose of a half interest in my claim that is very nice im sure As tar far as it goes I 1 came back here on purpose to but we wont go into that im footloose foot loose no family but some distant cousins that I 1 dont know I 1 decided that I 1 wanted a home companionship I 1 suppose every man does at one time or another and you decided to offer yourself to the first girl you met larry cutter was unable to detect either amusement or sarcasm in that comment nothing of the sort he objected hotly 1 I want somebody to belong just to me somebody who will be interested in what I 1 do care a little look here miss anthony you may not have seen very much of this world but something tells me you understand things you even know what the val dor looks me like right now youve been picturing the trackless miles of snow and scrub pine the camps you yon decided to offer yourself to the first girl you met paper shacks in dirty snow theres not the romance about it your magazine yarns make out theres a lot of riffraff unsavory men and unsavory women hours of hard work and those other hours when you sit staring into a fire and smoking your pipe harder than any work the solitude 1 I know jacqueline said unexpectedly 1 I told you so you always would ive been making sure of that for a week now such things do happen I 1 tell you if only there was some way to let you know how bow deadly in earnest I 1 am there was no reply but larry cutter did not know that his dark eyes were subscribing to the truth of his claim more eloquently than any words he might find too late he realized that he had gone about things in the wrong fashion the worst possible 1 I told you miss anthony that I 1 had a particulate parti culat purpose in coming here to the city he resu medi steadily 1 I can see now that it was meant to be that I 1 would find you call it fate if you like nothing will make me believe otherwise its rather difficult to explain just now but if anything were to happen to me id like to leave what I 1 have to someone I 1 care for to whom it would mean something to my wife she have to worry or want for most things please I 1 as jacqueline started to speak that sounds rotten I 1 guess but I 1 want it to be you because I 1 truly love you see here lets go at it th this s way he regarded her hec in a puzzled fashion then resumed 1 I know nothing about your situation but I 1 take it that youre a business woman that thac should make it easier for us both heres the way it stacks up larry spread apart the fingers of his left hand and tapped the t thumb with the end of his pipe stem first im asking you to marry me youve nothing but my own word tor for it that im decent healthy and independent im all three bout about her longing lonan lor for travel when lf lar ry told her could easily realize het her dreams the she replied now how could I 1 IT that costs money nc be explained simple enough you yon can marry me now continue with the story second id prefer to make it a straight business proposition at the start ive something to sell if you want to put it that way my name and the promise to care for and respect you as long as I 1 live you will be running no great risk I 1 think I 1 would protect your investment Z from the start let me be frank about that I 1 mean financially its no inducement a bond and with no strings whatever third I 1 ask nothing in return until you wish to give it of your own accord you would be free to keep your name your present way of living your job if you wish see me no oftener than you like no one need know of our marriage until you are ready fourth if it work out after a fair trial the deal is off be as free as air and forever fifth but you get me im ready to draw up a paper covering all that and sign it youre a notary I 1 suppose larry permitted himself a slight smile at this practical note and that covers the ground about as well as I 1 can do it there was silence as he waited for an answer jacqueline was the one who broke it arent you forgetting something she asked slowly do 1 I dare say what is it well include it you know nothing about me oh that larry gave a relieved sigh it seems to me that I 1 have known you always but until the day I 1 came into it your life is just your own it concern me your life will always be your own please be assured of that you are generous still that expressionless note in the girls voice dont say that im not trying to be generous to you all im trying to do is to be fair dreadfully fair I 1 know what a great thing im asking of you I 1 was so afraid that you even listen to me well anxiety gave almost a harsh tone to the last word jacqueline leaned forward leaned forward until the light fell relentlessly upon her small face 1 I dont know why I 1 did listen she admitted wonderingly an hour ago I 1 I 1 must be mad too then you mean larry caught his breath sharply waited 1 I am mad jacqueline anthony was deciding that for herself but you will do it I 1 ask for nothing until you can give it to me the little stenographers face went visibly white her lips trembled a whispered answer that cutter barely heard ill ill do it CHAPTER 11 II little miss anthony breathed an incoherent prayer when she found herself alone once more in her office and with the door closed the dazed petition was that no one look at or speak to her until she could collect her scattered senses the entire world was gone topsy it still moved shakily through a dull haze there had been no suggestion of so vast a cataclysm when jacqueline opened her eyes in the comfort of her small apartment on courtland street another dull day and probably few customers but each customer counted just now they counted tragically elines numbed brain still was trying to get across the message that she had just now promised to marry a man A man she never had seen before A man who had walked into her office and asked her to take a letter it must be a dream A nightmare rather and yet it might have happened because this man had told her his name after he proposed larry cutter and he wanted to marry jacqueline anthony she still comprehend any clear reason for it it just make sense and this mr cutter apparently had been perfectly satisfied with her halting foolish little acceptance he h had a d a asked S ked miss anthony to have dinner with him tonight anywhere she liked there were things to talk over arrangements to make arrangements jacqueline s shivered that meant a wedding he would want to talk about their wedding TO BE CONTINUED |