The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-05-19
Chapter l9
JOHNS EMPTIEs HIS HEART

of the bookcases and began to study the titles. My championship Of Caroline was the only shadow Of excuse had for being in the room and I wanted to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. < Monsieur has the ample choice, eh?. Flique inquired with a chuc- kle. But did I not tell you? Now it is this Professor Johns. Next 1t will be-that admirable Lum We, perhaps
 why Lum we?" samuels de- manded.
 Come, my friendl Did not Mon sieur Parados forbid Lum We to burn incense to his ancestors?"
 DO you call that a motive?"
 'It may be the strongest we have yet discovered, M. le Deputy. China lives for her dead! That Professor Jchns has an excellent alibi."
 I'm sick of alibis," Samuels de- clared wrathfully. They don't mean a thing in this house. Not that l think Johns did it, in spite of what that dough faced female said-my money is on Annersley and the Brent girl-but I'm going to get the truth of that quarrel out of him. Some 15' minutes had passed when Professor Johns appeared. His rather plnched face was anxious but his transforming smile banished she look. did not see how even Manning could be afraid of Profess sor Johns.
 Samuels, isn't it?' Pro- lessor Johns inquired diffidently looking at the deputy. My mem ory isn't so good as 1t used to be, he continued. T think know what YOU are after. It must be about that affair I had with MT. Para dos several months ago. The gir was in the hall, remember. She probably heard something. Well, Il was only right that she should tel you"
 "It would have been better if you had told me yourself" Samuels said chidingly.
 "Yes, very likely I should have. The truth of the matter is, MT. Samuels, I was so distressed by the affair that I did not wish to re- vive it. And then with MT. Par rados passing yesterday, was less inclined than ever to bring it up Rut I realize now that l was mis- taken" Professor Johns fiddlec nervously with his glasses. Ut 1! going to be difficult to make you understand what the old fort ha! come to mean to me"
 "The fort was the cause of you quarrel. eh?" Samuels exclaimed Didn't the girl tell you?"
 "No. She didn't get much out o it. Just a word here and there"
 "Ah, these half impressions ar dangerous. But how shall l mak you understand my point of view?
 This fort, M le Professeur, Flique said gently, it means mucl to you?"
 Does it mean much to me, yo' ask?" Emotion strangled his ut terance. My friends, that old for and my work are my whole exis tence. My work was done there my career came out of it! It i the very bone and blood of m! bodyl The fort also has an histori' cal significance It is one of thu very few landmarks we have. dreamed of having it restored Parados promised me the money And then-four months ago."
 Professor Johns pressed his hand to his forehead. His stricken eye pierced my heart. Even Samuel was touched.
 -Four months ago Parados in formed me that I could pack Ill and get out After 20 years, ant all my dreams, gentlemen He sait he was going to pull down the for brick from brick unti there was nothing of it left And why?" Johns flung hi clenched hands into the air. Be cause it spells his view! And be cause he was going to bridge tn Gut and use the grounds it stand on for part of a golf course!"
 That love of old things whicl makes a man give his life to buy ing and selling them and to hoard ing as many as he can afford wa in my blood. The despair i Johns voice was a knife drive into my own flesh.
 q talked to Parados like a mad man. Yes, confess it! I told hii his life was evil, that he shoul not destroy me and my work he had destroyed everything an everybody that had stood in h uayl He listened with a sheer c his face. I'll break you like that he said. I left him before "e' completely insane"
 professor Johns eyes and voi' sere calmer as be went on.