The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-12-23

schooling; he sacrificed most every thing for that boy
 As he rambled on, Peggy strug gled to readjust her viewpoint. Jin was Jim to her, his percentage O no moment. If the wealth whicl she had hoped to share with hin w&s to have been his by the pro visions in her uncle's will in cast she did not fulfill the stipulation: therein, why she was the more deeply glad. Generous to a fault Peggys heart rejoiced--
 About that gun"
 Beach spoke more briskly as ht reached the object of his call.
 Here 'tis. I removed the cart ridges for safe handling" anc handed an automatic pistol to Peg gy.
 Peggy missed the sheriff's kindly meant, if tactless, sarcasm and the faint twinkle in his eye, her atten- tion being entirely centered on the weapon in her hand. It was iden- tically like her uncle's, but the wording on it read, Model 191l- U. s. Navy"
 She caught her breath, then smiled; of course. it would have "U $. Navy" stamped upon it-did it not belong to Jim and he was in the navy; at least, she had found the gun she had used that fateful night in Jim's pocket-presumably he had picked it up by mistake for his. She must tell the sheriff the comedy of errors and give him the weapon with which she shot Edgar Stanton.
 This is 35 calibre pistol" she said, noting the further wording on the automatic, and she put out her hand to open the table drawer where she had put her uncle's pis- tol; while"
 Sure" broke in Sheriff Beach mistaking the cause of her hesi- tancy. And the bullet found in Stanton's heart was of 35 caliber' His eyes travelled upward to the top of the stairs and down to the spot where Stanton's body had ! lain.
 "You are a darn good shot, Miss Prescott"
 Peggy heard not word that he said after his first sentence. Hel extended hand dropped to her side Twice she strove to speak before she found her voice.
 "Yeu say the bullet that killed Edgar Stanton was of .35 caliber?' she faltered,t through lips grown ghastly white. fa sF T do,7 declared the sheriff firm lily, his surprise manifest.
 Was the girl trying to cook uT Isome tehnical defense to prove sh: had not killed Stanton. If so, ht must be on his guard.
 T was present when the bulle was extracted by the surgeon per forming the autopsy, and it fits tht pistol"
 | ..Was-was there no other bulle lin Lieutenant Stanton's body?'
 None; an no other wound" crisp fly.
 Not liking the trend of the con vcrsation, Beach rose with abrupt Iness and reaching over took bacl the pistol from her nerveless hand
 Well, must be going" with scrutinizing glance at her. You signed confession Is on file in tn Icourt house"-still she made no re Iply and the sheriff, considerabl puzzled, walked over to the iron < door.
 z "I'll call again, Miss Prescott" Peggys outstretched hand agail sought the drawer where lay he 1. uncle's .45 calibre automatic pistc which she had shot at Stanton AS caliber pistol-but he had bee killed with a .35 caliber bullet.
 Then she hadn't killed Edga Stantonl She wasn't murderer. ! But her joy was of short dura i tion. The bullet fitted Jim's pis tol A word from her and h would be implicated!
 l Driving away from the lodge Sheriff Beach stopped his car a ! Echo Farm and from the seat of hi car parked in Mohawk Lane, calle' to Obadiah Evans. Cant come in," he hollered, il answer to the farmers cordial in vitation. megaphoned through hi cupped hands as he stood on tn front porch of his house; then, a Obadiah came closer; T declare t gracious, I forgot to ask Miss Pres colt if Sundown's been there late t1x, Ira x,,a c,,,t at hic oaYnn fhOlIol