The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-07-21
CHAPTER 31. DROP YOUR GUN"

WHAT I G4Il O4s
 DROP YOUR GUN"
 Very quietly, listening for sounds from the servants quarters, Jerry and Stevens walked down the long, silent hall of the west wing.
 Door after door they passed un- til at last they reached that which they knew opened into LucciS room. Here they stood for many moments, listening against the pine panels for sounds of the oc- cupant Of Lucci there was not the least sound, but their hearing was disturbed by the steady foot falls of a man in the next room, who appeared to be pacing back and forth within the close con- fines as a ships captain marches to and fro on the lofty bridge. But Lucci was still out of the build ing. Of that much the pair were sure. He could scarcely have gone to sleep with his plans for the night so close to maturity.
 Who is doing all the walking?" whispered Jerry cautiously.
 Stevens glanced about, mentally tallying the occupants of each Of the rooms.
 Hamilton" he breathed and tip toed to the door from which the sounds were issuing. After mo- ment of stony immobility, he beck oney to the flyer, who joined him his ear to the panel
 The man within, walking res lessly, could be heard muttering disjointed phrases. AS his voice rose and fell, scraps of sentences came to the ears of the tense men outside.
 Chicago. :. Always talking driving me mad with. Williams, another word and IT. kill. . -
 Ten steps forward, ten steps back. Ten forward and ten back, The muttering subsided. Jerry strengthened up and looked at Stevens with growing horror Tn his eyes. The little man still crouched, attentive, his calm face showing no expression. The voice rose again.
 Martins pop eyes, always look ino looking can't play Garfield with those eyes staring. Too hot to wear wool. .. Price going down. Martins fault, damn him The voice rose in sudden crescendo. "I'll kill him and then I'll be cool again" The footsteps ran across the room. There came the sound of a key turning in the lock.
 The detective strengthened up and dragged Jerry to position against the wall just beyond he hinges of the door. Hamilton, wild-eyed, dishevelled, stepped out into the dim hall, a heavy auto matic in his hand. In an instant, Stevens had twis ed the gun out of his hand. Jerry, his powerful arms around the slender figure of the crazed man, pushed him, strug- gling, biting and kicking, back into his room.
 Its too hot to start anything tonight sir" Stevens told him soothingly
 Hamilton still struggled, but his crisis had passed, lie looked thin, haggered, and old.
 T must see Martin" he whis- pered helplessly. If I can see Martin for a minute. everything will be all right. It'll be cool | again the price of wool will go up and we'll have little peace
 That's all right murmered ! Jerry, lifting him and placing i him at full length on the bed. | 'You'll see him in the morning"
 Swiftly, skillfully, Stevens tied his hands and feet with torn strips of sheeting, adjusted his limp fl- gure to a comfortable position and pushed a pillow under his head l He walked to the dresser, opened | several drawers, then with an ex- clamation of satisfaction, took out a double handful of cartridges and clips and slowed them away in his pocket.
 See you in the morning, MT he said quietly He switched off the light and followei Jerry into the hall, carefully lock ing the door behind him Come