The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-05-29
The girl came running.

That stair there, ma file, Flique said. "Is it ever used?"
 Hardly ever, sir" Manning as- sured us. Its just another pile of steps to keep swept"
 "But that, my little one--is it not labor of love? Could it be otherwise in this temple of beau- ty?"
 "Oh, go on, MT. Flique,' and Manning giggled behind her dus- lter. I'm not anybody's. little one'." The seriously; And it's no temple of beauty, sir-inside, anyhow. It's a wicked house and don't care who hears me say so"
 The virtue of mademoiselle re- deems it" Ffque said, lowing solemnly. Tt intrigues me, that little stair. Whose chamber do see at the top of it?" | Mrs. Parados'," Manning said. An! There is door. It opens into madame's chamber?"
 Well, not exactly" Manning re- piled. You see, there's a bedroom and bathroom and a-you know, Ia little hall, in between" i And the roef door I see up there opens into the little hall-is Fthat it?"
 Yes, sir. D
 E Flque beamed "it is clear that mademolgelle is a woman of intel ligence."
 T try to make the best of the talents that were given to me, sir" Manning said. a
 Who could doubt it?' Flique in- quired, and wondered what his game was. And now, mademoi- selle." he continued, you will re- imember that monsieur was killed between half past six and seven on Friday evening"" Indeed I do, MT. Flique." And you were with madame every moment of that tragic half hour, yes?"
 T was, sir. I told MT. Samuels, too"
 "Mais oui. That is to say you were with madame every moment of that half hour except, of course, for the--was it ten minutes?-in which she bathed?" @Of course. sir" and Manning simpered. Mistress bathes herself, TO be sure.r' Flique chuckled. And when she had prepared her. self for the bath and slipped on her green robe--"se MsG sI Her blue robe, sir. Her robins- fegg blue"
 "Imbecile that I ami" Fqique cried vehemently. Her robin's-egg blue, to be sure! And then she went into the hall that opens into the bathroom, shutting the bedroom door behind her. while you, my I little one, piled your twinkling needle"
 f"Why. yes. did, sir. Mistress being economical and all that, I was letting out one of her gowns"
 Flique bowed acquiescently. But madame went into the little hall, shutting the door behind her."
 "Oh. yes. MT. Flique.'
 And perhaps she had one hand thrust deep into the pocket of her robin's-egg blue gown? No? I am wrong?"
 "Oh, but she had, sir!" Manning burst forth excitediy. She seemed to be holding something tight and T wondered what it was" .Mademoiseile would, being a woman of intelligence Flique mur- mured gravely. But madame was -um-nervous, perhaps?" Yes. she was" Manning cried, glowing "All upset. But I didn't think much of it, for MT. Parados meyer treated her properly. But she needn't have snapped at me the way she did when I showed her that little stone I found on the carpet"
 "A little green stone2"
 That's all it was, sir" Manning continued warmly. T showed it to her and she knocked 1t out of my hand. I thought she was going to |slap my face. Really, did. sir"
 "Mademoiselle has her problem. But who has not, I ask you?p Fiji que laughed. sie That's right. sir" Manning sigh ed piously. We all have our cross es."
 'Mademoiselle has the philoso- phy, also" FTique beamed, and he chucked Manning under the chin. But this little green stone-you have it, oui?"
 No sir, haven't. When I looked for it, 1t was gone. Mistress must have picked 1t up."
 Flique shrugged. "A nothing" he