The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-05-21

ny MT. FHQueF
 Caroline's warm voice came from
 behind a thicket of buckthorn to
 my left. I found her sitting against
 a eucalyptus tree with a book on
 her lap and that bantering look
 I loved in her eyes.
 "He told me to come and find
 you" I laughed, dropping beside
 her.
 "That was nice of him. Isn't it
 gorgeous up here? I could almost
 forget that horrible affair ever
 happened"
 That was my thought when you spoke" I said. You feel as though
 you had come up out of something
 corrupt"
 Caroline's eyes sparkled. 'You
 are refreshing young man, MT.
 Hunt"
 That's interesting. In what way
 may I ask?"
 How old are you?"
 "Thirty-almost."
 Heavens! Whoever heard of a man of that age being in the an tique business? though they were all SO at least, and wore boards like Victorian scientists and edi- torial writers"
 You think my profession has aged me, then?"
 was sitting on the grass at her feet, my face on level with hers and I knew had never seen any thing quite so satisfactory as the picture she made.
 I'm not so sure, now" she in- formed me meditatively. T thought
 you were old-inside, I mean-but you are not. suppose it's that thin dark, wiry look you have. Suddenly she was laughing at me little crinkles tugging at the cor ners of her eyes and mouth. M. pAntiquarie," she declared "You are younger than you were last night. I don't believe you ars
 more than 16' well" I grinned. I've beer
 through a good deal since last night"
 Her eyes darkened and I regret ted the reference I had made. ! "So have T." she replied soberly
 You must have a good deal te ! tell me-
 |, "I'd sooner talk a3ouc something a else I said gently.
 "So would l." and she smiled
 wistfully. But you mustn't forget i, that MT. Samuels still suspects ms . of killing Parados" ~Samuels," said stoutly, lis al { ass. But I doubt very much if he ! does suspect you now" , No restriction had been placed , upon me and described my ven , ture during the night, recountec f what Flique had told me, and
 informed her of what had develop
 ed during the morning. q can't quite imagine Lum Wt
 killing his master" she said. "He had plenty of motive. Chins
 lives for her dead, as Flique said. why couldn't Parados have Jeff
 him alone?a Caroline cried passion. ately. He had everything any mar , ! could wish for and Lum We hae nothing but his ia h CTS spirit
 What beast he was! Do you think
 Lum We did it?" :, ''I don't know Her outburst hae
 depressed me. "Grainger gave hin an alibi, but Grainger has liet I twice already. If Lum We's motiv' was the only one wed turned up I'd say yes, but 1t isn't, by a lont shot. There's Annersley's, Johns the French convicts', Celia's, Mrs 5 Parados', Grainger and Miss Jah
 ries probably have one" Q And Caroline Brent's."
 Don't say that" begged, for th' e hardness in her tone had distressed Q me. Surely it isn't necessary fol r. me to tell you that I know yol s hadn't anything to do with it?'' el I had drawn nearer, and sh'
 dropped her hand onto my arm. 1, "It's dear of you to say that q her eyes were tragic. but reall. il you don't know anything of tn ], sort"
 Q .'Nonsense!" was beginning : when she stopped me. f "It isn't nonsense. You are jus
 being emotional and detectives ar : not supposed to be emotional
 Can't we be logical about it?" But when you try to throw sus | picion on yourself you are no ], being logical,"I burst forth. "Yo' are not going to tell me that yo V killed Dan Parados, much as h I deserved it. are you?" nl Of course not. And I'm no ! Itrying to throw suspicion on my e self, either. But I would say I ha e net killed him if I had. Don't yo 2 see? I had motives, hadn't IF"
 Two good ones," admitted re e luctantly.
 e And Parados deserved what h If got?"
 a This isn't getting us anywhere ,e "It islv she declared emphatical