The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-11-18

went on in front of her and she saw that she faced a dining room.
 The table was set for four per- sons. The chair at the head of the table was drawn back and the fie- ure waited respectfully for her to occupy it. Peggy sat down, Point ing to tall goblet by her plate, she glanced up.
 Water, please she said, and caught a glimpse of swartly skin and glowing eyes before the figure withdrew.
 A second later large silver soup tureen was placed in front of her.
 Miss Peggy, whar is yo'?" Julia's hail came from the living room.
 q am waiting for dinner" | And at the words Julia's comedy yellow face frightened. [ Go out in the kitchen, Julia, and ask Uncle Herbert's servant where the garage is located and I will drive the car around there"
 Julia started with alacrity for the door to which her mistress pointed.
 Miss Peggy, dear, thar ain't no light" then as surprised ejacu- lation escaped Peggy: Como an see fo' yo'se'f, honey"
 | Peggy was at her side in a sec 1 ond.
 !, Feel on the wall and locatc . light switch" she suggested, run ming her own fingers up and down just beyond the door jamb.
 Julia, however, touched the light switch first and they found them selves in large pantry; from it they went into a larger kitchen Except for themselves the rooms were deserted Swiftly they made canvass of the entire first floor, and returned to the dining room 1 Returning to the living room they went outside and made quick work of closing the car windows and locking the doors.
 Neither fingered in the living room on regaining it, and without mention of their mutual desire to eat something, trudged upstairs.
 Here's the linen closet, Julia, :" Peggy said. Make up the beds while I telephone MT. Chase"
 A branch telephone was in cor her of the gallery close at hand and Peggy lost no time in getting the Cornwall telephone exchange. Hello, operator" she called as the exchange answered. This IS thirty eight ring five, Miss Prescott speaking, from Yew Lodge, Mo hawk Pond. Please record this call as coming from here at 10:10 eastern standard time. Have you done that? Thanks. Now put me through for New York City-Mr. Philander Chase, Spring 326."
 It was 10 minutes later that a masculine voice answered.
 Hello, MT Chase: I am here at Yew Lodge"
 Peggys tone was low but every word was distinct. ''The time Is recorded at the Cornwall telephone exchange, so that you can substan- tiate my statement officially for your court records.
 Any excitement, did you ask ?'- she hesitated-"I took the wrong road and got lost; that's all. Good night" and she rang off.
 Not until Julia was asleep in the small maids room next to hers did Peggy permit her thoughts to turn back to her entrance into her un- cle's home-hers now, by right of inheritance, provided she carried tout Uncle Herbert's stipulations. And why shouldn't she?
 She sat on the cage of her bed and ran her hand through her curly hair. Was the man she had taken for her uncle's butler but a figrnent of her imagination? MT. Chase said nothing of caretaker, but surely one must have been left on the place.
 Not to reside there perhaps, but possibly to have quarters outside lthe Lodge-in a garage, or near by farmhouse. To leave such home unguarded seemed incredible leven if it was located in an inacces- sible and little known part of the sovereign state of Connecticut.
 No, it was entirely feasible that she had encountered caretaker, who, for unknown reasons, had de- parted as quickly and mysteriously as possible. But why disappear? And how?
 She rose and slipped on a kimono. Walking softly so as not to awak- en Julia, she turned on the lights of the living room from the switch on the second floor and sought the