The daily Alaskan., 1922-07-04
Coplriaht bH EdMIn BaIner ". = ~ -

Copyright by tdNWN 6oImer~' =
 Alan went to the door and opened It, as he heard Spearmap upon ne steps again. Speurmun waited only until the door had been reclosed be- hind him.
 Well. Conrad, what was the Idea of bringing Miss Sherril Into thls?"
 "I diGut bring Ter in; I tried the best ! could to keep her out"
 "Out of what-eXactlyi"
 You know better than I do. You know exactly what It Is. You know that mun. Sneurman; you knew what he came here for. don't mean money; I mean you know why he came here for money. and why he got 1t, l tried as well as l could, to make him tell me: but he wouldn't do lt, There's disgrace of some sort here, of course disgrace that involves my father and. I think, you too. If you're not guilty with my rathpr you'U help me now; if you are guilty. then. at least your re fusal to help will let me know that.'
 "I don't know what you're talking about. told you this man may have been a wheeISman on the Curyet; don't know more about him lhau that; I don't even know that certainly. Of course. ! knew Ben COrvct was paying bluckmuu: I've known for years that he was giving up money to some one. I don't know who he paid it to; Gr for what"
 The strain Of the last few hours wns telling upon Alan; his skin flushed hot and cold by turns. He paced mp and down while he controlled himself.
 "ThaCs not enough, Srrurmuu," he said finally. "I-I've f"It you, some how. underneath all these things The first time l saw you. you were in this house doing something you ought not Co have been doing; you fought me then you would have killed me rather than not get away. Two weeks ago, some one attacked me on the street. for robbery. they said; but l know It wasn't robbery"
 You're not So crazy as to be trying to involve me in that
 There came a sound to them from the hall. a sound enthusiastically denot- ing some presence. Speurmun Jerked suddenly up; Alan, going to the door and looking Into the hall, saw WasSa- quam. The Indian evidently had re- turned Go the house some time before; he had beer bringing to Alan now the accounts which he had settled. He seemed to have been standing in the hall for some time listening; but he came In now, looking iuQuiringly from one to the other of them.
 "Nut frlendS?" he inquired. "Nou and Henyj
 AIuu's passion broke out suddenly. "We're anything but that, Judah. l found him. the first night l go; here and while you were away going through my fathers things. l fought with him, and he ran away. He was the one that broke into my fathers desks; maybe you'll believe that even If no one else wIlL'
 "Yes?" the Indian questioned. "YesT It was plain that he not only believed but that believing gave him immense satisfaction. He took AIan's arm and led him into the smaller H. brary. He kneIl before one of the draw CTS under the bOOksnelvGS-the drawer Alan recalled, which he himself had been examining wien he had found Wassuquum watching hlLn. He drew out the drawer and dumped It's con tents out upon the floor; he turned the drawer about then, and pulled the bottom out of It. Beneath the bottom which he had removed appeared now another bottom and a few sheets of paper scrawled In an uneven hand and with different colUred Inks.
 At sight of them, Speurman, who had followed them into the room, ut tered an oath and sprang forward. The Indians small dark hand grasped Spearmaus wrist and hls face twltched Itself Into a fierce grin which showed how little civilization had modified In him the aboriginal passions. But Spearmau dld not try to force his way instead, he drew back suddenly.
 Alan stopped and picked up the pa pers and put them In his pocket If the Indian had not been there, 1t would not have been So easy for him to do that. he thought
 CHAPTER Xl