The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-08-21

and F'ouche. The interview had been a smiling affair and Divitt had at once to explain it to make light. Then Ledbetter had writ ten a note, and Gabreau had gone out with it. Gabreau explained now, and Molly was relieved. The incl dent had nothing to do, she saw, with Divitt's avoidance of her.
 Molly watched Gabreau take his station between the two front windows.
 The evening wore on. Few were left in the room beside the group at the roulette wheel. Kirk Stanard leaned over Mrs. Belaise, appar- ently saying that they must leave. Mrs. Belaise shook her head, laid down a coin. Molly saw Divitt look at Gabreau.
 Gabreau came slowly from his station against the wall. Slowly he passed along the group at the rou- lette wheel, very slowly behind Mrs. Belaise's chair Molly, watch ing, saw Mrs .Belaise's painted shawl brushed to the floor. Kirk Stanard had bent to pick it up, but Gabreau had paused and now placed it carefully about the lady shoulders as if in apology TOT hav- ing brushed it from the chair. Then he went on and took his station against the wall.
 Kirk Stanard had persuaded Mrs. Belaise to leave. As she rose something glittered, slipped down her white dress to the floor. She stood protesting while Kirk folded the painted shawl more closely about her and led her out, followed by Ledbetter and Fouche, the bright thing that had slipped down her dress lying under the roulette table
 Divitt bowed them out, returning to the deserted wheel, where Ga- breau was putting things to rights. ! When they came away the bright thing that had been under the table was gone.
 The last players were leaving Divitt and Gabreau began to clear the tables. Divitt glanced at Mol ly. a little bright bird, watch ing from her cage. Get to bed kid,n he said.
 She came out, closing and lock- ing the gilded door. As she passed him, she touched his sleeve, little unspoken good night" to which ne responded with nod.
 Molly had reached the door oi her room when the gate bell rang In the dark of the court she watched Gabreau answer it. KirF Stanard entered, hurried into tht parlors where Divitt was putting out the lights.
 Mrs. Belaise has lost something, he said. "I'd like to see If 1t | here"
 Divitt switched on the lights She was nowhere but the rou lette wheel" he remarked, ant drew back the cover. He ant Kirk looked underneath.
 "It was her necklace" Kirk sal' then. She didn't miss it till sh u
 got home"
 you looked in the car, o course?n Divitt asked. Kirk nodded. we've looked il every plausible place-hurriedly, o course. She knows she had it ol while she was playing. She re members lingering il" She probably loosened 1t ther I'll have Gabreau look on tn | sidewalk. Wait till get my flash. Kirk and Gabreau went out O the sidewalk, Divitt going frs with his flash. They returned pres ently, Divitt offering his condol ences. T dislike such things to hap pen here," he said. You must ad | vertise."
 T shall try to get it in tonight Kirk answered, and was gone. Molly opened her door, stood 1e , an instant in the dark, then sn
 switched on the light at the bed 1 head. Her coat and hat lay o
 the bed for Molly had been ti4s
 afternoon to see the doctor, ha
 not got home till time to hurr
 into the parlors She gathered thei
 up now, hat and coat, placed thel
 in the armorie. Then she sat o
 the beds edge, rumpling the sati
 spread staring into the dim ol
 room.
 Its a hell of place to bring
 baby to-" she said.
 At noon next day Divitt sent fe
 Juanita to come to his office. Dis
 its office was directly over tf
 room that he shared with Moll
 A door had been cut in the wa
 that separated it from the Hot
 Tijon, making it accessible to eitht
 place. No denizen of the house ir
 vaded the upper balcony where
 passed Divitt's office; so Juanit \ l. F4..~t tvxan