The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-05-24

It wasn't any sound but step: knew that perfectly. and l daresay if the wind had not lulled just at that instant l should not be alive now. But 1 heard 1t and moved 10 one side in order to look over the curve of the railing. And al that very instant there were two sharp cracks of revolver. my tlasLlight spun out of my hand and thudded somewhere below. the wind swooped down upon the courtyard with a crash, and every light In the hotel went out.
 My hand tingled but wasn't hurt
 There was no sound but the hurl ing of the wind. and found myself running down the stairway. hold ing to the railing. There is 10 ex cuse fol it. but that is what did.
 encountered nothing on the stairway. If it was Lovschien who had shot at me-and thought il possible-he would probably either follow me to finish the job or seek to reenter the hotel himself.
 He certainly was not apt to re enter the hotel by way of the wind ing stairway and the corridor where the priest and the porter waited; if followed the wall cautiously past the great iron gate below the en- trance arch and then around the corner, opposite. might catch him at the door of the lobby.
 DY this time had cooled a trifie, As and my progress was slower and more careful. and wished l had some kind of weapon. Lovschiem was fat, however, and out of condi- tion. If l could set him before he had time to use his revolver-again something brushed my hand. This time it was not shrub. It was rough fabric and an arm. and it moved quickly away. and hurled myself in it's direction. tackling low as in football.
 Icaught only the flying end of some kind of garment which wrenched itself out of my clutch. my knees scraped the pavement. and there were three flashes of light from somewhere off at my left and three revolver shots that spat viciously through the tumult. Vaguely l thought 1t was lucky l was fiat on the pavement and waited. There were no more shots. and the wind shrieked. and 1t was black as pitch everywhere.
 wished 1 had had the good sense to retreat before it was too late, and got cautiously 70 my knees, then swiftly to my feet and ran to my right few steps. The sound made by the wind covered my own foot. steps, but it also covered the sound of any movement he had made.
 Cautiously. straining my ears to hear. edged toward the wall of the north wing. not. however. toward the corner of the stairway. That, l thought, was where he would ex. pect me to go; 1t would be natural for me to attempt to escape by the way in which 1 had entered the courtyard-an entrance which, realized rather chillingly. had been entirely too precipitate. When someone starts shooting at you in the dark and you have no weapon at all. you can't help wishing vehe- mently that you were elsewhere.
 Against the wall, with some kind of small tree in tub at one side of me. waited. If he approached from the side of the shrub 1 would hear him or feel him and have some warning: then. since you'd rather take chance than stand still and be shot. 1 could take him perhaps unexpectedly and have a better chance in fight.
 Presently began to work quietly toward the door to the lobby. Tho entrance gates were locked. Sue had said; he would not deliberately en. ter the hotel by the north, wing cor. ridor above. and the only place left was the lobby door.
 encountered no one and heard nothing but the wind. And had not more than arrived at the lobby door when the lights suddenly flashed up: the light swaying above the entrance. throwing the court into shadows and empty white spaces again; the light from my door above; and now a light in the lobby beside me.
 stepped aside from the door into the shadow and waited again. There was nothing to be seen but the shadows and the bending shrubs and trees in the courtyard.
 Defeated and angry. 1 opened the lobby door. Madame, her red hair shining under the desk light, looked up at me. quick flash in her green eyes.
 Your husband just came in by this door" 1 said. Where is he?"
 No one entered by that door," she replied crisply. The cockatoo chattered. and she added: Hush, Pucci."
 fCopurfQht i9ss Mi0non c. EberAartJ
 Tomorrow, Sue stares with fright.
 ered n.as at tha murdered s-----