The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-05-30
/ q N fhARlEG\ { BOOTH ,
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1 J
 ""They really tell you something?' I asked
 They tell me everything, mon- sieur. It was done by clever one, ! that trick, and it is well that Ana I tole Flique is here'' He twirled his mustache again. Tonight we shall open the heart of our big mystery. But there are many things to- do yet and perhaps mademoiselle is
 waiting for monsieur" He shrug- ged.
 Clearly, he wanted me to go, so left him, puzzled over what l 1 had seen and heard
 I was still groping when I came upon Caroline in the pergola. She wanted to know what was the mat ter.
 T have just left Flique." I ex- plained, dropping beside her, and I'm beginning to wonder if the Lord forgot to endow me with { brains. Flique sees meanings in everything. He insists that he has read the riddle, but he won't tell me the answer. I feel like fool" Caroline put her fingers on my lips.
 You are DO near to 1t, Alan" she said gently. "So am l." Her | eyes filled with tears. Cant we get away for little while-up the hill where the sun shines" Her \ voice broke and I took her hands. Something has happened again, dear?p,r, 4su t4
 She nodded, shiverlng. That
 dress of Celia's--the little georg-
 cite. you know-s4ii.
 l "Yes2s ~f.
 II gave it back to. her. She Tipped it to shreds-stamped on it l-kicked | it--oh. Allan, she said dreadful things!"
 Try not to think about them" II pleaded, after a moment. Celia
 is crazy with grief. She couldn't be
 otherwise It'll come right soon. To- might, maybe. Flique said so.' l Skipped my arm around Caroline. l~Perhaps we can get Lum We to put us up a lunch"
 .Lum We, it turned out, was de- lighted to prepare refreshments and
 we departed with half chicken, two thirds of a lemon pie, and a
 bottle of milk in leather satchel. ] There are moments in the lives of all of us which are precious only
 because they are secret. and it is
 nobody's business what Caroline and ] I did with ourselves during the rest of the morning and the early after
 noon.
 Toward o'clock we came to the most northerly point of the ridge. I Below us, on the east side, was the
 abandoned fishing village which had
 been occupied by Portuguese set ! tiers until Parados had bought the island and turned them out Of l their homes. We had been hoping Ithat we would find it.
 | Three wharves routed on their piles in the mauye mirror of the
 cove. The bleached ribs of a va riety of small craft embedded in the white sand had the mournful air of a prehistoric graveyard.
 A huddle of sheds occupied the center of the settlement and from
 either side of it extended score or so of frame and adobe houses, most of them fallen in like mush-
 rooms withered in hot sun. Chim-
 neys were gone; doors stood agape, ltheir approaches smothered by sand of choked by ice-plant. A ' tiny church had lost it's steeple.
 The disintegration of the place
 depressed me and angered me. This
 was the most wicked thing Dan I Parados had ever done, thought. A trail that led down the steep , slope looked passable, but neither
 Of us was inclined to try 1t. Tt would spoil everything" Car oline said, shuddering. That. mans , hatred is everywhere. If it hadn't been for Grainger--" e [ She paused and I nodded. An-
 nersley--if 1t were he-had done : society a definite service. If 1t
 had not been for Grainger should al have been inclined to congratu- I late him But Grainger made all the difference. was sorry for a Celia. There is nothing like sheer : terror for turning man into n something else. a 4a s,I Caroline must have read my e thoughts.
 g. You are sure 1t was Annersley?s j. she asked thoughtfuliy. .- Aren't you2" I countered. d. Yes, I suppose SO" Her tone was SC still doubtful T had silly sort Id of an idea" She paused, frown- ie ing.
 y. What is it2" I pressed.