The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-04-10
Chapter 2i
THROUGH THE KEYHOLE

Agdln JdCQutiillc lciI loAlio "tOA the wave of relief which swept over her. A little while ago she would not have believed it possible that she could ever be intensely glad to see MT. Carew. But she was.
 "I didn't send my name up" he explained, as she invited him in q would have done so but thought you would probably not have remembered it. It is very kind of you to see me"
 T remember it perfectly" said Jacqueline, smiling.
 q took the liberty of calling to see how you are after out little adventure of last night" he went on.
 And Jacqueline, who had been about to speak, held her peace. She did not forget that it was Mrs. Por- ter Mason who had introduced MT. Carew, and she was beginning to see Mrs. Porter Mason in a new light.
 T searched for you everywhere after the raid" said MT. Carew, "but could not find trace of you anywhere. Of course, l had not the faintest idea that anything un- pleasant was going to occur last night, or I should have tried to per- suaae Mrs. Mason to go somewhere else. But it was her idea going to Circos, not mine"
 q quite understand that" said Jacuueline. q am not blaming you, MT. Carew, or anybody. l think 1t was quite exciting"
 "That's the way to look at 1t, said Carew, smiling. "All that rub bish about taking our names and addresses and so on is merely a matter of form. You will never near another word about it."
 ,Jacoueline was not listening very much. She was thinking as clear ly as she could.
 It seemed that MT Carew knew nothing about the part she had played in connection with the raid. She came swiftly to the conclusion that it would be best not to en- tighten him. She would not trust MT. Carew until she knew more about him.
 DO you happen to know. MT. Carew," she asked, "that Mrs. Por- ter Mason has not returned to the hotel since the raid?v
 I'm not surprised" said Ca rev, calmly Mrs. Mason is rath- CT eccentric lady. and she has way of disappearing suddenly like this"
 Rather a curious habit, isn't it?" asked Jacqueline, drily.
 He laughed. She's curious per son, and awfully interesting on that account. know she was looking for you after the raid, but like me she could not find you. She had found some other friends, and l should not be surprised If she went home with them. Having done SO, it is just like her to stay with them for a few days
 q sec" murmured Jacqueline.
 "As a matter of fact" continued Carew, i've come on rather bold errand, and Mrs. Mason not being here. makes it impossible, am afraid, to ask what I was going to-"
 Jacoueline smiled. Whatever he had to ask, Mir Carew had, she thought, put this rather nicely; and although Jacqueline was in no way interested in him, she was touched slightly by the expression of keen disappointment which MT Carew had assumed.
 You need not be Afraid to asK, MT. Carew," she said. T VIII teh you if it is impossible"
 q intended to ask you fl you would be kind enough to come out to dinner with me" said Carew. "i have taken tickets for a theatre Afterwards. But, of course, now that Mrs. Porter Mason has disap- neared. and you have nobody to 1y,o y,aranp vOll-"
 Jacqueline reflected quickly. She had nothing to do If she did no' % out somewhere this evening she would only sit and worry about the diamonds. .,
 "Well.n she said. with the old habit of carefulness in small things there's no sense in wasting two nerfectly good theatre tickets, and after all. I've never had chaper- one before until last night-ano that wasn't altogether successiul night, was it?"
 aYou mean you will come?" crieo MT. Carew, delighted.
 Of course I will" assented Jae- oueline. T don't know much about YOU. MT. Carew, but don't suppose you will want to eat me. II you do