The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-09-17

What in" began Fitz. You had burglar, too?"
 "A burglar" answered Ledbetter, who took nothing but Naida's let ters."
 My God!" F'itz spoke under his breath. He stared at Ledbetser ''Dick" he whispered
 Ledbetter turned abruptly.
 T warned you" said Fitz. T wired you not to come back"
 Shut up," Ledbetter answered. My trunks at the station My bags packed Get rid of the crowd somehow"
 You off?"
 New York" said Ledbette Turkey. I've got 20 minutes. Get rid of the crowd"
 Fitz came out, looking as dis turbed as he felt.
 There was cable,' said Fltz. Fries sister They think she's dy- ing. He's leaving tonight"
 But that's Paris" whispered Emmy Jean. Poor Bess Will he make it?'
 We hope so," said Fitz
 He opened the door and they went out into the hall buzzing, whispering. Say good night to him for me" Say good-by" Poor 
 Eric! And he'd just got home"
 Emmy Jean and Trigger rode home in Kirk's car. Emmy Jean they dropped in town. Trigger lived next door to Kirk. Great success, Trigger Kirk managed to say at parting. He would have had the ride alone with Juanita if they had not climbed into the car.
 He was alone with her in the dark hall. Silently he caught her to him, firmly, thinking she would resist. She did not resist. Her kiss met his. In the dark and silence she chung to him.
 "Juanita-you are crying!"
 She shook her head. Again she kissed him. 'Good-by," she, whis- pered. s .
 "Good-by?" he questioned husk- fly Why did you say that?"
 T don't know" bewilderedly. Tt said itself. Let me go, dear. I hear some one moving"
 You couldn't. The marquesa's in bed and the servants sleep in the yard. Let's not go up yet" T must :" whispered against him. I'm afraid tonight "Afraid?" his arms frightened. He himself was a little afraid. That word "good-by." Had she really not meant it? Afraid, Jua- nita?"
 She nodded. I'm afraid some times
 What are you afraid of honey?"
 He thought she would say, of going back to Spain" But she said Of you"
 Why of me, Juanita?" Because I love you Let me go, Kirk dear No, let me go You must
 "Ill never let you go, Juanita." :" "You-see why I'm afraid of | you" she whispered You try to hold me. It will be hard-because I love you. But you can't hold me. ought to have known that at the start. I did know. I only forgot. Good night, darling. If you love me, let me go. I'm so tired. I'll see you in the morning" | He released her In the dark they went up the stair, their steps noise less on the deep carpet. At her door he kissed her again-gently. She was tired She would see him in the morning.
 Juanita in her room, stood an in- stant leaning against the closed door feeling Kirk's kiss still on her mouth. Somewhere back in her mind moved the singing thought that Ledbetter was gone-gone be- fore he had remembered Kirk would not know now-ever-any- thing.
 She put on the light beside her bed a shaded light that would not disturb the marquesa whose room was connected with hers by short arched passage without a door. She moved about, preparing to undress.
 Suddenly she paused, hearing a sound. Once Understanding with Kirk in the hall-she iIau heard that sound, sound as of some one | walking in stockinged feet. Then 1t had seemed to be in the up- | stairs hall. Now it came from the room on the other side of theirs Nelly's room. The marquesa had a | way of walking about in her stock inged feet. Perhaps the sound real ly came from the marquesa's room. Juanita entered the arched pas sage. 'Marquesa!' she whispered. There was no answer, and she switched on the light. The bed was | empty. the bath also. l Juanita, who had done no more than take off her wrap, stepped noiselessly into the hall. Nelly's room did not open into the main hall, but fronted a separate pas sage. Juanita, remembering the III fzI