,,*APT] ,,VI
  ,96,"DLI<T'S LIFE CAME ,DEDE ,MASON4
,%E CAME R IMP]CEPTIBLY4 ,HE _H A3EPT$
H] IMP]SON,Y AL;G )! (FICE FURNI%+1 !
(FICE BOY1 ,MORRISON1 ! *IEF1 3FID5TIAL1
& ONLY CL]K1 & ALL ! RE/ (! A3ESSORIES
(A SUP]MAN'S GAMBL+ PLACE ( BUSI;S4 ,_H
HE BE5 ASK$ ANY "T DUR+ ! F/ MON?S %E 0
9 8 EMPLOY1 HE WD H BE5 UNA# 6TELL !
COLOR ( H] EYES4 ,F ! FACT T %E 0 A
DEMIBLONDE1 "! RESID$ DIMLY 9 8
SUBCONSCI\S;S A 3CEP;N T %E 0 A
BRUNETTE4 ,LIKEWISE HE _H AN IDEA T %E 0
N ?91 :ILE "! 0 AN ABS;E 9 8 M9D ( ANY
IDEA T %E 0 FAT4 ,Z 6H[ %E DRESS$1 HE _H
NO ID1S AT ALL4 ,HE _H NO TRA9$ EYE 9 S*
MATT]S1 NOR 0 HE 9T]E/$4 ,HE TOOK X =
GRANT$1 9 ! LACK ( ANY IMPRES.N 6!
3TR>Y1 T %E 0 DRESS$ "S H[4 ,HE KNEW H]
Z 8,MISS ,MASON10 & T 0 ALL1 ?\< HE 0
AW>E T Z A /5OGRAPH] %E SEEM$ QK &
A3URATE4 ,? IMPRES.N1 H["E1 0 Q VAGUE1 =
HE _H _H NO EXP]I;E ) O!R /5OGRAPH]S1 &
NATUR,Y 2LIEV$ T !Y 7 ALL QK & A3URATE4
  ,"O MORN+1 SIGN+ UP LRS1 HE CAME ^U AN
,I %4 ,GLANC+ QKLY OV] ! PAGE = SIMIL>
3/RUC;NS1 HE F.D A NUMB] ( ,I WILLS4 ,!
,I % 0 AL"O4 ,X /OOD \ 3SPICU\SLY4 ,HE
PRESS$ ! CALL-BELL TWICE1 &A MO;T LAT]
,DEDE ,MASON 5T]$4 8,DID ,I SAY T1 ,MISS
,MASON80 HE ASK$1 EXT5D+ ! LR 6H] &
PO9T+ \ ! CRIM9AL PHRASE4 ,A %ADE (
ANNOY.E CROSS$ H] FACE4 ,%E /OOD 3VICT$4
  8,MY MISTAKE10 %E SD4 8,I AM SORRY4 ,B
X'S N A MISTAKE1 Y "K10 %E A4$ QKLY4
  8,H[ D Y MAKE T \80 *ALL5G$ ,"DLI<T4
8,X SURE DON'T S.D "R1 9 MY WAY ( ?9K+40
  ,%E _H R1*$ ! DOOR 0? "T1 & N[ TURN$ !
(F5D+ LR 9 H] H&4 8,X'S "R J ! SAME40
  8,B T WD MAKE ALL ^? ,I WILLS WR;G1
!N10 HE >GU$4
  8,X DOES10 0 H] AUDACI\S ANSW]4 8,% ,I
*ANGE !M80
  8,I % 2 OV] 6LOOK T A6AIR UP ON
,MON"D40 ,"DLI<T REP1T$ ! S5T;E F ! LR
AL\D4 ,HE DID X )A GRAVE1 S]I\S AIR1
LI/5+ 9T5TLY 6! S.D ( 8 [N VOICE4 ,HE
%OOK 8 H1D4 8,X DON'T S.D "R1 ,MISS
,MASON4 ,X J DON'T S.D "R4 ,:Y1 NOBODY
WRITES 6ME T WAY4 ,!Y ALL SAY ,I W--
$UCAT$ M51 TOO1 "S ( !M4 ,A9'T T S80
  8,YES10 %E AC"KL$G$1 & PASS$ \ 6H]
MA*9E 6MAKE ! CORREC;N4
  ,X *.ED T "D T AM;G ! S"EAL M5 ) :OM
HE SAT AT LUN*EON 0 A "Y ,5GLI%MAN1 A
M9+ 5G9E]4 ,_H X HAPP5$ ANY O!R "T X WD
H PASS$ UNNOTIC$1 B1 FRE% F ! TILT ) 8
/5OGRAPH]1 ,"DLI<T 0 /RUCK IMMLY 0!
,5GLI%MAN'S ,I %4 ,S"EAL "TS1 9 ! C\RSE
(! M1L1 ! PHRASE 0 REP1T$1 & ,"DLI<T 0
C]TA9 "! 0 NO MISTAKE AB X4
  ,AF LUN*EON HE CORN]$ ,MAC9TO%1 "O (!
MEMB]S :OM HE KNEW 6H BE5 A COLLEGE MAN1
2C ( 8 FOOTBALL REPUT,N4
  8,LOOK "H1 ,BUNNY10 ,"DLI<T DEM&$1 8:
IS "R1 ,I % 2 OV] 6LOOK T A6AIR UP ON
,MON"D1 OR ,I W 2 OV] 6LOOK T A6AIR UP
ON ,MON"D80
  ,! EX-FOOTBALL CAPTA9 DEBAT$ PA9;LLY
=A M9UTE4 8,B.S$ IF ,I "K10 HE 3FESS$4
8,: WAY D ,I SAY X8
  8,OH1 ,I W1 ( C\RSE40
  8,!N ! O!R IS "R1 DEP5D ^U X4 ,I ALW 0
ROTT5 ON GRAMM>40
  ,ON ! WAY BACK 6! (FICE1 ,"DLI<T
DROPP$ 96A BOOK/ORE & B"\ A GRAMM>2 &=A
SOLID H\R1 8 FEET UP ON ! DESK1 HE TOIL$
"? XS PAGES4 8,KNOCK (F MY H1D ) LL
APPLES IF ! GIRL A9'T "R10 HE -MUN$ AL\D
AT ! 5D (! SES.N4 ,=! F/ "T X /RUCK HM T
"! 0 "S?+ AB 8 /5OGRAPH]4 ,HE _H A3EPT$
H] UP 6!N1 Z A FEMALE CR1TURE &A BIT (
(FICE FURNI%+4 ,B N[1 HAV+ DEMON/RAT$ T
%E KNEW M GRAMM> ?AN DID BUSI;S M5 &
COLLEGE GRADUATES1 %E 2CAME AN
9DIVIDUAL4 ,%E SEEM$ 6/& \ 9 8 3SCI\S;S
Z 3SPICU\SLY Z ! ,I % _H /OOD \ ON !
TYP$ PAGE1 & HE 2GAN 6TAKE NOTICE4
  ,HE MANAG$ 6WAT* H] L1V+ T AFN1 & HE 0
AW>E =! F/ "T T %E 0 WELL-=M$1 & T H]
MANN] ( DRESS 0 SATISFY+4 ,HE KNEW N"O
(! DETAILS ( WOM5'S
DRESS1 & HE SAW N"O (! DETAILS ( H] N1T
%IRT-WAI/ & WELL-CUT TAILOR SUIT4 ,HE
SAW ONLY ! E6ECT 9 A G5]AL1 SKET*Y WAY4
,%E LOOK$ "R4 ,? 0 9 ! ABS;E ( ANY?+
WR;G OR \ (! WAY4
  8,%E'S A TRIM LL GD-LOOK]10 0 8
V]DICT1 :5 ! \T] (FICE DOOR CLOS$ ON H]4
  ,! NEXT MORN+1 DICTAT+1 HE 3CLUD$ T HE
LIK$ ! WAY %E DID H] HAIR1 ?\< =! LIFE (
HM HE CD H GIV5 NO DESCRIP;N ( X4 ,!
IMPRES.N 0 PL1S+1 T 0 ALL4
  ,%E SAT 2T HM &! W9D[1 & HE NOT$ T H]
HAIR 0 LI<T BR[N1 ) H9TS ( GOLD5 BRONZE4
,A PALE SUN1 %9+ IN1 T\*$ ! GOLD5 BRONZE
96SM\LD]+ FIRES T 7 V PL1S+ 62HOLD4
,FUNNY1 HE ?"\1 T HE _H N"E OBS]V$ ?
PH5OM5ON 2F4
  ,9 ! MID/ (! LR HE CAME 6! 3/RUC;N :
_H CAUS$ ! TR\# ! "D 2F4 ,HE REMEMB]$ 8
WRE/LE )! GRAMM>1 & DICTAT$4
  8,I % MEET Y HALFWAY ? PROPOSI;N--0
  ,MISS ,MASON GAVE A QK LOOK UP AT HM4
,! AC;N 0 PURELY 9VOLUNT>Y1 &1 9 FACT1
_H BE5 HALF A />TLE ( SURPRISE4 ,! NEXT
9/ANT H] EYES _H DROPP$ AG1 & %E SAT
WAIT+ 6G ON )! DICT,N4 ,B 9 T MO;T ( H]
GL.E ,"DLI<T _H NOT$ T H] EYES 7 GRAY4
,HE 0 LAT] 6LE>N T AT "TS "! 7 GOLD5
LI<TS 9 ^? SAME GRAY EYES2 B HE _H SE5
5\<1 Z X WAS1 6SURPRISE HM1 = HE 2CAME
SU45LY AW>E T HE _H ALW TAK5 H] =A
BRUNETTE ) BR[N EYES1 Z A MATT] ( C\RSE4
  8,Y 7 "R1 AF ALL10 HE 3FESS$1 )A
%EEPI% GR9 T SAT 9CONGRU\SLY ON 8 /]N1
,9DIAN-L F1TURES4
  ,AG HE 0 REW>D$ 0AN UPW>D GL.E & AN
AC"KL$G+ SMILE1 & ? "T HE V]IFI$ ! FACT
T H] EYES 7 GRAY4
  8,B X DON'T S.D "R1 J ! SAME10 HE
-PLA9$4 ,AT ? %E LAU<$ \T"R4
  8,I BEG YR P>DON10 %E HA/5$ 6MAKE
AM5DS1 & !N SPOIL$ X 0A4+1 8B Y >E S
FUNNY40
  ,"DLI<T 2GAN 6FEEL A SLI<T AWKW>D;S1
&! SUN WD P]SI/ 9 SETT+ H] HAIR
A-SM\LD]+4
  8,I DIDN'T M1N 6BE FUNNY10 HE SD4
  8,T 0 :Y ,I LAU<$4 ,B X IS "R1 &
P]FECTLY GD GRAMM>40
  8,ALL "R10 HE SI<$--8,I % MEET Y
HALFWAY 9 ? PROPOSI;N--GOT T80 ,&!
DICT,N W5T ON4 ,HE 4COV]$ T 9 ! 9T]VALS1
:5 %E _H NO?+ 6D1 %E R1D BOOKS &
MAGAZ9ES1 OR "W$ ON "S SORT ( FEM99E
FANCY "W4
  ,PASS+ H] DESK1 ONCE1 HE PICK$ UP A
VOLUME ( ,KIPL+'S POEMS & GL.ED BEPUZZL$
"? ! PAGES4 8,Y L R1D+1 ,MISS ,MASON80
HE SD1 LAY+ ! BOOK D[N4
  8,OH1 YES10 0 H] ANSW]2 8V M*40
  ,ANO!R "T X 0 A BOOK ( ,WELLS'1 ,!
,:EELS ( ,*ANGE4 8,:AT'S X ALL AB80
,"DLI<T ASK$4
  8,OH1 X'S J A NOVEL1 A LOVE-/ORY40 ,%E
/OPP$1 B HE / /OOD WAIT+1 & %E FELT X
9CUMB5T 6G ON4
  8,X'S AB A LL ,COCKNEY DRAP]'S
ASSI/ANT1 :O TAKES A VAC,N ON 8 BICYCLE1
& FALLS 9 )A "Y GIRL V M* ABV HM4 ,H] "M
IS A POPUL> WRIT] & ALL T4 ,&! SITU,N IS
V CURI\S1 & SAD1 TOO1 & TRAGIC4 ,WD Y
C>E 6R1D X80
  8,DOES HE GET H]80 ,"DLI<T DEM&$4
  8,NO2 T'S ! PO9T ( X4 ,HE WASN'T--0
  8,& HE DOESN'T GET H]1 & Y'VE R1D ALL
!M PAGES1 HUNDR$S ( !M1 6F9D T \80
,"DLI<T MUTT]$ 9 AMAZE;T4
  ,MISS ,MASON 0 NETTL$ Z WELL Z AMUS$4
  8,B Y R1D ! M9+ & F9ANCIAL NEWS 0!
H\R10 %E RETORT$4
  8,B ,I SURE GET "S?+ \ ( T4 ,X'S
BUSI;S1 & X'S DI6]5T4 ,I GET M"OY \ ( X4
,:AT D Y GET \ ( BOOKS80
  8,PO9TS ( VIEW1 NEW ID1S1 LIFE40
  8,N WOR? A C5T CA%40
  8,B LIFE'S WOR? M ?AN CA%10 %E >GU$4
  8,OH1 WELL10 HE SD1 ) EASY MASCUL9E
TOL].E1 8S L;G Z Y 5JOY X4 ,T'S :AT
C.TS1 ,I SUPPOSE2 & "!'S NO A3.T+ =
TA/E40
  ,DESPITE 8 [N SUP]IOR PO9T ( VIEW1 HE
_H AN IDEA T %E KNEW A LOT1 & HE
EXP]I;ED A FLEET+ FEEL+ L T (A B>B>IAN
FACE 6FACE )! EVID;E ( "S TREM5D\S
CULTURE4 ,6,"DLI<T CULTURE 0 A WOR?.S
?+1 & YET1 "SH[1 HE 0 VAGUELY TR\#D 0A
S5SE T "! 0 M 9 CULTURE ?AN HE IMAG9$4
  ,AG1 ON H] DESK1 9 PASS+1 HE NOTIC$ A
BOOK ) : HE 0 FAMILI>4 ,? "T HE DID N
/OP1 = HE _H RECOGNIZ$ ! COV]4 ,X 0 A
MAGAZ9E CORRESPOND5T'S BOOK ON !
,KLONDIKE1 & HE KNEW T HE & 8 PHOTOGRAPH
FIGUR$ 9 X & HE KNEW1 AL1 (A C]TA9
S5S,NAL *APT] 3C]N$ )A WOMAN'S SUICIDE1
&) "O 8,TOO M* ,"DLI<T40
  ,AF T HE DID N TALK ) H] AG AB BOOKS4
,HE IMAG9$ :AT ]RONE\S 3CLU.NS %E _H
DRAWN F T "PICUL> *APT]1 & X /UNG HM ! M
9 T !Y 7 UNDES]V$4 ,( ALL UNLIKELY ?+S1
6H ! REPUT,N ( 2+ A LADY-KILL]1--HE1
,BURN+ ,"DLI<T1--& 6H A WOMAN KILL H]F \
( LOVE = HM4 ,HE FELT T HE 0 A MO/
UN=TUNATE MAN & WOND]$ 0:AT LUCK T "O
BOOK ( ALL ! ?\S&S ( BOOKS %D H FALL5
96HIS /5OGRAPH]'S H&S4 ,= "S "DS AFW HE
_H AN UNCOM=TA# S5S,N ( GUILTI;S :5"E HE
0 9 ,MISS ,MASON'S PRES;E2 & ONCE HE 0
POSITIVE T HE CAU<T H] LOOK+ AT HM )A
CURI\S1 9T5T GAZE1 Z IF /UDY+ :AT MANN]
( MAN HE WAS4
  ,HE PUMP$ ,MORRISON1 ! CL]K1 :O _H F/
6V5T 8 P]SONAL GRIEV.E AG/ ,MISS ,MASON
2F HE CD TELL :AT LL HE KNEW ( H]4
  8,%E -ES F ,SISKIY\ ,C.TY4 ,%E'S V
NICE 6"W ) 9 ! (FICE1 ( C\RSE1 B %E'S R
/UCK ON H]F--EXCLUSIVE1 Y "K40
  8,H[ D Y MAKE T \80 ,"DLI<T QU]I$4
  8,WELL1 %E ?9KS TOO M* ( H]F
6ASSOCIATE ) ^? %E "WS )1 9 ! (FICE "H1
= 9/.E4 ,%E WON'T H ANY?+ 6D )A FELL[1 Y
SEE4 ,I'VE ASK$ H] \ REP1T$LY1 6! !ATRE
&! *UTES & S* ?+S4 ,B NO?+ DO+4 ,SAYS %E
LIKES PL5TY ( SLEEP1 & C'T /AY UP LATE1
& HAS 6G ALL ! WAY 6,B]KELEY--T'S ": %E
LIVES40
  ,? PHASE (! REPORT GAVE ,"DLI<T A
4T9CT SATISFAC;N4 ,%E 0 A BIT ABV !
ORD9>Y1 & NO D\BT AB X4 ,B ,MORRISON'S
NEXT ^WS C>RI$ A HURT4
  8,B T'S ALL HOT AIR4 ,%E'S RUNN+ )!
,UNIV]S;Y BOYS1 T'S :AT %E'S DO+4 ,%E
NE$S LOTS ( SLEEP & C'T G 6! !ATRE ) ME1
B %E C D.E ALL H\RS ) !M4 ,I'VE HE>D X
PRETTY /RAI<T T %E GOES 6ALL _! HOPS &
S* ?+S4 ,R /YLI% & HI<-TON$ =A
/5OGRAPH]1 ,I'D SAY4 ,& %E KEEPS A
HORSE1 TOO4 ,%E RIDES A/RIDE ALL OV] ^?
HILLS \ "!4 ,I SAW H] "O ,SUN"D MYF4
,OH1 %E'S A HI<-FLY]1 & ,I WOND] H[ %E
DOES X4 ,SIXTY-FIVE A MON? DON'T G F>4
,!N %E HAS A SICK BRO!R1 TOO40
  8,LIVE ) H] P80 ,"DLI<T ASK$4
  8,NO2 HASN'T GOT ANY4 ,!Y 7 WELL 6D1
,I'VE HE>D4 ,!Y M/ H BE51 OR T BRO!R (
H]S CDN'T H G"O 6! ,UNIV]S;Y (
,CALI=NIA4 ,H] "F _H A BIG CATTLE-RAN*1
B HE GOT 6FOOL+ ) M9ES OR "S?+1 & W5T
BROKE 2F HE DI$4 ,H] "M DI$ L;G 2F T4
,H] BRO!R M/ CO/ A LOT ( M"OY4 ,HE 0 A
HUSKY ONCE1 PLAY$ FOOTBALL1 0 GRT ON
HUNT+ & 2+ \ 9 ! M.TA9S & S* ?+S4 ,HE
GOT 8 A3ID5T BR1K+ HORSES1 & !N
RHEUMATISM OR "S?+ GOT 96HM4 ,"O LEG IS
%ORT] ?AN ! O!R & )]$ UP "S4 ,HE HAS
6WALK ON CRUT*ES4 ,I SAW H] \ ) HM ONCE
--CROSS+ ! F]RY4 ,! DOCTORS H BE5
EXP]I;T+ ON HM = YE>S1 & HE'S 9 ! ,FR5*
,HOSPITAL N[1 ,I ?9K40
  ,ALL ( : SIDE-LI<TS ON ,MISS ,MASON
W5T 69CR1SE ,"DLI<T'S 9T]E/ 9 H]4 ,YET1
M* Z HE DESIR$1 HE FAIL$ 6GET ACQUA9T$ )
H]4 ,HE _H ?"\S ( ASK+ H] 6LUN*EON1 B 8
0 ! 9NATE *IVALRY (! FRONTI]SMAN1 &!
?"\S N"E CAME 6ANY?+4 ,HE KNEW A SELF-
RESPECT+1 SQU>E-D1L+ MAN 0 N SUPPOS$
6TAKE 8 /5OGRAPH] 6LUN*EON4 ,S* ?+S DID
HAPP51 HE KNEW1 = HE HE>D ! *A6+ GOSSIP
(! CLUB2 B HE DID N ?9K M* ( S* M5 &
FELT SORRY =! GIRLS4 ,HE _H A /RANGE
NO;N T A MAN _H LESS "RS OV] ^? HE
EMPLOY$ ?AN OV] M]E ACQUA9T.ES OR
/RANG]S4 ,?US1 _H ,MISS ,MASON N BE5 8
EMPLOYEE1 HE 0 3FID5T T HE WD H _H H]
6LUN*EON OR ! !ATRE 9 NO "T4 ,B HE FELT
T X 0 AN IMPOSI;N = AN EMPLOY]1 2C HE
B"\ ! "T ( AN EMPLOYEE 9 "W+ H\RS1
6PRESUME 9 ANY WAY ^U ANY (! RE/ ( T
EMPLOYEE'S "T4 ,6D S 0 6ACT L A BULLY4
,! SITU,N 0 UNFAIR4 ,X 0 TAK+ ADVANTAGE
(! FACT T ! EMPLOYEE 0 DEP5D5T ON "O =A
LIVELIHOOD4 ,! EMPLOYEE MI<T P]MIT !
IMPOSI;N "? FE> ( ANG]+ !
EMPLOY] & N "? ANY P]SONAL 9CL9,N AT
ALL4
  ,9 8 [N CASE HE FELT T S* AN IMPOSI;N
WD 2 PECULI>LY OBNOXI\S1 = _H %E N R1D T
CURS$ ,KLONDIKE CORRESPOND5T'S BOOK8 ,A
PRETTY IDEA %E M/ H ( HM1 A GIRL T 0 TOO
HI<-TON$ 6H ANY?+ 6D )A GD-LOOK+1
G5TLEMANLY FELL[ L ,MORRISON4 ,AL1 & D[N
"U ALL 8 O!R R1SONS1 ,"DLI<T 0 TIMID4 ,!
ONLY ?+ HE _H "E BE5 AFRAID ( 9 8 LIFE 0
WOMAN1 & HE _H BE5 AFRAID ALL 8 LIFE4
,NOR 0 T TIMID;Y 6BE PUT EASILY 6FLI<T
N[ T HE FELT ! F/ GLIMM]+ NE$ & DESIRE =
WOMAN4 ,! SPECT] (! APRON-/R+ / HAUNT$
HM1 & HELP$ HM 6F9D EXCUSES = GETT+ ON
NO =W>D] ) ,DEDE ,MASON4