The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-06-07
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in which Parados and Grainger lay. When you called to me his knife was pricking my flesh. He threatened to kill you, too. And then, when you had left the house and he thought it was safe, he signalled to Bee and you came back. Oh, Allan, I though he had killed you!"
 They had left her alone on the launch, but in the shed they soon made it clear they were prepared to go to any lengths to get information both of them believed she possessed.
 T couldn't have stood it much longer If I'd been sure it was Johns I'd have told them, but l wasn't. didn't know And then Johns came and Johns was Lacote And then you-Al- Ian"
 Flique's fondness for an audience asserted itself as soon as we re- turned to the house. He insisted on the presence of every one be- fore he would give us a word of his final summing up of the tragic affair. Our heads counted, he plunged into his story.
 His little game" Flique contend cd, had justified itself in that it had revealed the general detesta- ton in which Parados was held. The first clew of importance was Johns avowal that he telephoned to Parados at 25 minutes of seven.
 What did it mean, that telephone call?
 Monsieur went to the patio win dow-there madame saw him Ma dame ran down the stair and just before she reached the patio win dow monsieur fell with a bullet through his heart Madame depart ed in panic, leaving the price ticket in monsieur's hand. Perhaps five minutes later, M. Annersley ap- peared and then Mile. Jahries
 M. le Deputy comprehends?
 T do not" Samuels admitted in a tired voice. Johns was in his tower 200 yards away. We know he was there. He could net have shot Parados with a pistol at that range-yet we know that he did. Go ahead, Flique.'
 Monsieur is killed" Flique con- tinued, bowing. What have we? A rose petal-a blackness on the car- pet--a journal with oil stains M. rAntiquarie's statement as to the curious behavior of M. Annersley- M. Annersley's rose-the rose that Grainger dropped into that waste basket-the affair of the jade phoe- nix-and the ticket in the dead hand of monsieur
 But these clews, mes amis- they indicate the little mysteries, that is all. How do I know this truth, you ask?"
 Flique shrugged and twirled his mustache. "A Cellini cannot ex- plain his art am the principal agent of la Surete. But I have said .there is one important clew-the telephone call. And then, mes sieurs ct mesdames, that poor Grainger is killed and there are many clews.
 "Grainger it would seem, has discovered something of the truth Does he not say as much in the presence of the rascal Johns? A brave man, Grainger. Presently, shall tell you what he discovered That young man Hendricks has given Johns a most excellent alibi but Johns has lived in terror of the day when those little ones, le Bala- fire and Bee, may find him, and terror has eaten his heart away. He must kill Grainger and have the perfect alibi"
 He couldn't have killed Grain ger" Samuels interposed. Grain ger was killed with pistol. We found the shell and the bullet. And Johns was in his tower at the time Hunt saw him there, and tele- phoned to him."
 "Yet he shot Grainger, mon Sieur-"
 T know itl" Samuels exclaimed Tt doesn't make sense. There's ar unknown factor"
 "Precisement," Flique agreed. q lshall proceed. Johns, have said would have the perfect alibi. 4 shot must be fired in the house and Grainger must be killed while he that Johns, is known to be in his tower.
 But 1t is dangerous, this passion for perfection. Also, he has forgot. Iten the genius of Anatole Flique
 That was the fatal error. On, should have care about repeating T ones successes.
 What have we2 The cartridgl case on the floor, the bit of twisted
 steel in Grainger's pocket, the firy