The daily Alaskan., 1922-06-20

SG1z=lz1r-r '---lal6--9 Spearman. He did not know what that thing was; no stretch of his thought, nothing that he knew about himself or others. could tell him; but, at sight Of him, in the dark of Corvet's house, had screamed at him the name of a sunken ship. and in terror had hurled his electric torch. lt was true, Spear mans terror had not been at Alan Con- rad; it had been because Spearman had mistaken him for some one else for 8 ghost. But, after learning that Alan was not a ghost, Spearman's at titude had moi very greatly changed ; he had fought, he had been willing to kill rather than 10 be caught there.
 Alan thought an instant: he would make sure he still had" that some thing on Spearman and would learn how far 1t went. He took up the re- ceIver and asked for Spearman.
 A voice answered-"Yes."
 Alan said, evenly: "I think you and l had better have a talk before we meet with Mir Sherrlll this afternoon. I am here in Mir. COryets office now and will be here for half an hour. then I'm going out"
 Spearman made DO reply but hung up the receiver. Alan sat waiting, his watch upon the desk before him tense, expectant, with tiushes of hot and cold passing over him. Ten min utes passed; then twenty. The tele- phone under Corvets desk buzzed.
 MT. Spearman says he will give you five minutes now" the switchboard gIyl said
 Alan breathed deep with relief; l; Spearman had wanted to refuse to see hul-bui he had not refused; he had Sent for him within the time Alan had appointed and after waiting until just before il expired.
 Alan put his watch hack into his pocket and, crossing to the other office, found Spearman alone. There was no pretense of courtesy now in Spear mans manner; he sat motiOnless at hls desk. his bold eyes fixed on Alan lutpntly. Alan closed the door behind hlu and advanced toward the desk.
 "I thought we'd better have some explanation" he said, about our meeting last night"
 Our meetlngT Spearman repeated; {; his eyes had narrowed wstchtuly.
 "You told Mir Sherrlll that you were In Duluth and that you arrived home In Chicago only this morning. Of course you don't mean to stick to that story with me?"
 What are you talking about" Spearman demanded.
 of course, know exactly where you were a part of last evening; and you know that know. l only want to know what explanation you have to offer"
 Sppaman leaned forward. Talk sense and talk 1t quick, If you have anything to say to me|
 "I haven't told Mir Sherrlll that l found you at Corvet's house last night; but l don't want you to doubt for minute that I know you-and about your d-g of Benjamin COrVet and your cry about saving the Miwaka"
 A flash of blood came to Spearman's face; Alan, in his excitement, was sure of it; but there was just that flash, no more. He turned, while Spearman sat chewing his cigar and staring at him, and went out and partly closed the door. Then, suddenly, he reOpened 1t, looked in. reclOsed lt sharply, and went on hls way. shaking a little. For, as he looked back this second time at the dominant, determined, able man seated at his desk, what he had seen in Spearman's face was fear; fear of himself, of Alan Conrad of Blue Rap lds-yet It was not fear of that sort which weakens or dismays; It was of that sort which, merely warning of danger close at hand, determines one to use every means within his power to save himself.
 Alan, still trembling excltedly, crossed to COrvet's office to await SherrIn. It was not, be felt sure now, Alan Conrad that Spearman was op- posing; It was not even the apparent successor to the controlling stock of CUrvet, SherriIl and Spearman. That Alan resembIed some One-sOme one whose ghost had seemed to come to Spearman and might, perhaps, have come to COrvet-was only Incidental to what was going on now; for In Alan's presence Spearman found a threat-an active, present threat against himself. Alan could not i'm agine what the nature of that threat could be. Was it because there was something still concealed in COrvet's house which Spearman feared Alan would find? Or was 1t connected only with that some one whom Alan resem- bIed?
 
 Constance Sherrill's most active thought that day was about Henry Spearman, for she had luncheon en-
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