The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-07-25

"Ay, that's the question-who?- the dead man had other enemies aplenty, 'tis saidl And then, whats all this I'm hearing of a cat's-eyt ring, eh?"
 My lord, I've heard no mention O such"
 Mot not heard ont? Iris said the murderer wore a ring set with a cats-eye stone. Iris whis- pered everywhere-are y deaf? Arc y blind?"
 Thrusting sudden hand into the pocket of his flower embroidered waistcoat, the Viscount fumbled there impatiently, and presently drew thence a crumpled paper, and thrust into Master Oldcraft's ready hand the note my lady Helen had tossed into the gardeners barrow
 "Well?" demanded the Viscount as Oldcraft stared at this torn paper. "Well?"
 Very well, may lord, ay, unless it be a hum, my lord, hoax!"
 "Tush!" exclaimed the Viscount.
 My lord, whence had ye this?''
 T picked it up in the garden at the Moat House" And how" said Oldcraft, frown- ing at the letter, "how should it come to be there. my lord?"
 How should I know? There twas found and there it is. hoax or no.''
 Why, it may be no hoax, my lord. WI your lordship's kind per- mission, I'll keep it."
 Why, then, keep it, man. Act lon it or do what ye will" Act on it?" repeated Oldcraft i"Doth your lordship mean search the apartments c you gentlemen?'
 Do as twill, fellow, all's one to me-
 Pray my lord, how many gen. tlemen lodge here at present."
 x"You should know this" retorted the Viscount.
 Why, my lord, so I do There was my lord Carberry, but he's gone back to London. There's MT. Trum back to London. And there's MT. Trumpington, but he's away-which leaves Captain Despard and"
 "Myselfp nodded the Viscount.
 "very true, my lord. As to this cat's-eye ring now--hath your lord ship any suspicious, any" NO, not I! I'm no constable, so l-'Here, chancing to catch sight of the country fellow goggling at him over the half-door, Viscount Brocklehurst stopped to point at him with his whip:
 "Ha, will y stare at your bet ters. rascal, will ye peep, will ye Ipry?"
 "Ar," quoth the fellow and knuck- ling an eyebrow, he chuckled.
 What '.s. who-who is he?" "A half-wit I judge, sir" answer l ed Master Oldcraft, also scowlins at the fellow in question. Now m, lord, concerning this-cat's-eye ring lmy lord,r persisted Master Titus lsto search this inn I must have warrant"
 well, Sir John Parret is jus ltice-"
 I True, my lord, but Sir John i away at Lewes. and"
 "Tush!" exclaimed the viscoun' and strode away into the house 1 whither, after a momentary hesi
 tation, Master Oldcraft venture ] to follow him.
 I The next morning was hot, slum jberous and still; the country fello'
 sprawled upon one of the broat
 hospitable settles before the Guyt ! ford Arms: stalwart. loose-limh T ed fellow in patched and staine smock~ ~frock, his gathered legs an , heavy boots dusty with travel. Nc { tionless he lay, long legs outsprea'
 dozing.
 After some while. Tom Pitt ar peared, soft treading despite heav
 boots, but on his way to the inr
 yard paused a moment to staI !. with his narrow furtive eyes at tf !, somnolent countryman asprawl Q ], the weatherworn settle. s1 You're a stranger hereabouts, el friend?" he questioned. The cour l lltryman snored gently, whereupc I Tom Pitt stopped to peer under u wide-eaved hat, but seeing no mol than a dark, sunburned cheek, yer : tured to poke the sleeper gent
 with his whip.
 I "A stranger, eh?" Pitt repeate and at the same time gave vigol ous shoves and pulls to the sprawlt
 body of the sleeping youth. P The man stirred, mutterix.g sleeI lily: I "Romany =. my son" 8 sAila,- @ gypsyts- q,aoth Pitt, ar