The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-09-17
~SM0M1hS
sy NATALIE sUAHEa LINCOLN


 news of Jack Winslow's where abouts?"
 Elsa eyed him steadily. None She sighed deeply. "Oh, MT. Thorne you have disappointed me" she murmured T have asked about you, learned such wonderful things of your career, and yet you dc nothing in clearing up this terrible tangle!"
 Have just a little patience. Thorne thrust his hands in his 1 pockets and gazed down at the ground and the white writing pad caught his eye. Obviously she had dropped it
 Just then hand fell on his shoulder and Winslow's pleasant voice sounded in his ear.
 Well, well! Why didn't Lam bert tell me you had come?" he ex- claimed. Elsa, don't you think it too cold for you to finger here any longer? Come in the house, both of you"
 As they progres d forward Thorne dropped back and, unseen by either Winslow or Elsa, pocket ed the small scratch pad. Inside the front door Miss Kline met them and wheeled Elsa down the hall to- ward her bedroom.
 NO news?" inquired Winslow, as the two women disappeared out Of hearing distance. Thorne shook his head and the older man whit ened to his lips. T cannot under stand it." he murmured. "Is it pos sible, Thorne, that Jack has met with some motor accident?"
 The police would hear of it if he had" Thorne replied "A de- scription of Jack Winslow has been broadcast to every precinct and hospital" Thorne bent closer and lowered his voice Does Jack take dope?"
 Winslow rccoiled, his face ashen Good God, mol"
 So far as you know Thorne took a short turn about the hall There. sir, I didn't mean to up- set you" as Winslow raised tragic eyes to his. Dismiss what I said from your mind" and he added more briskly: Can I go up to your third floor?'
 Certainly" Winslow came out of his daze and led the way to the was unfinished although boardeo elevator. Part of the great attic over Winslow went ahead, open ing the doors of different store rooms, some filled with empty trunks; one, which he unlocked with due caution, had cases of pre- war whiskey and champagne, whilt still others contained discarded ol damaged furniture. A door at tht north end of the. attic refused tc open as Wlnslow turned the knob and he looked in some perplexity al the detective.
 This is Jacks private sanctum, he explained. He has all hi! junk up here. He did lot of ex- perimenting with chemicals at ont time, and so discolored and stained the porcelain tubs and washstanc in his bathroom, that Julia insisted that he fit up a place up here where he could be as untidy as hs wished. But it's never kept locked I don't understand" and he shool the door vigorously in his effort tt open it.
 Thorne laid restraining hant on his shoulder. No good doinl that" he advised. See, there is new lock-recently put in What shall we do?" questioned Winslow eagerly.
 Thorne strengthened up. Let go to Jacks room" An hour late Thorne admitted himself baffled a he stood once more in the middl, of Jacks room and gazed slowl, around. Tn no possible or impos sible place had he found any Ike. that would fit the lock on tn door of the room in the attic, no had he located one clew as t Jacks whereabouts
 May I use your telephone?" h. asked.
 !. It took several minutes to get DO
 lice headquarters. Thorne in strueted the sergeant to tell Inspec tor Mitchell, then out of the build ing, to come as quickly as possibl - to Oaklands and to bring lock smith with him.
 Why did not Jack Winslow com
 forth and proclaim his innocence O ! any participation in the murder o y pr. Kane, his uncle's house guest
 Thorne thrust his hands dee > in his pockets, his old and familia . trick when debating with himself e As he did so, his right hand cam lin contact with the scratch pa,