The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-06-03


 l be able to tell Caroline that sh ] was definitely clear of this abom 1 inable business. Fliques sugges
 ton that I spend the next hal
 hour in her company was an ex
 cellent one, however, and I though
 I might as well do so.
 Has any one seen Miss Brent?
 I inquired, as I went toward tn
 door.
 Miss Jahries seemed surprised Didn't you and M. Flique mee her as you came back from tn
 fort2" she asked.
 No" I said. Why?"
 Mrs. Parados and I saw her il the hall as we came She asked us where you and M. Flique were I told her I thought you had gon, to the fort and she said she woult go to meet you"
 Did you see her leave tn, house?"
 No. She went upstairs for he coat"
 "It's quite possible that she lef by the front door as we came ir through the patio" said. Or sht may not have gone out at all. Per haps she is in her room."
 You will look, monsieur" Fliqut said sharply.
 wondered at his tone as I rar upstairs. Caroline was not in hel room nor on the roof. I called hei name several times. As I reentered the library, Flique spoke in the telephone.
 M. le Professeur," he said. "Has Mile Brent come to the fort2 Non If she does, you will so inform us please. I thank you"
 Probably she's out in the grounds" Samuels muttered, as Flique rang off. Or she may have stopped somewhere along the fort trail"
 Surely that is it, monsieur, but I would have the certain knowledge. One of your men shall inspect the trail, and we shall look in the grounds, yes?"
 Samuels nodded Kirk" he said. you go. Phone back from the fort" !"
 Flique's manner alarmed me. I should have gone myself If had not thought we were more likely to find Caroline in the vicinity of the house.
 You don't think anything has to her, do you?" I asked anxiously. You are not keeping anything back, are you?"
 What would I keep from you?" he demanded responsibility. Have not said that all I desire is the knowledge that mademoiselle is safe? Come, we shall find her"
 His tone was intended to be re- assuring, but I did not find it so. His eyes were troubled.
 I could not believe that Caroline would not turn up of her own ac- cord within the next few minutes. Hurrying outside, I began a syste- matic tour of the grounds and the front terrace, the gardens, the garage, the pergola, the boathouse, and the patio, call ing Caroline's name as I went. Flique and Samuels and the oth- CTS duplicated my search.
 As I came to the foot of the out side stair which led up to my room, the remote possibility that she might have been taken i'll some where upstairs, occurred to me. I ran up to the roof, and through my room into the hall Miss Jah- ries joined me here and we went from room to room. even looked into the closets.
 Finally we came to the room in which the bodies of Parados and lay. Like my room and it opened out upon the roof above the library. The closet of this room was locked and the key was missing, but l banged upon the door and called name, absurd as I felt such a proceeding to be.
 As we ran downstairs, Flique and 5amuels came into the hall, fol- owed by Annersley and Celia-Celia to her lover's arm as If she was afraid she might lose him again. The telephone in the library rang. Samuels beat me to it. The others crowded into the room after Us.
 Not there?" Samuels said into the instrument. He hasn't seen her, eh? You'd better remain over there until give you a ring"
 We were silent as Samuels faced IS, his eyes worried. Something had ,aken me by the throat. I could not speak.
 Mes amis," Flique said sharply, 'mademoiselle goes to meet M. Hunt and myself and she disap- oears--so! I do not like it. It may pc serious, this matter. We shall search the island at once"
 'She can't have left the island" said. "We'll go over every