The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-11-13
l& Outrageous Fortune II ESA, 84as h1 Razaleia NkAzeu.M

ness. I'd like a word with you in the dining-room. It's all right. man Randall isn't going to run away"
 The words came to Caroline's ea2 as small and sharp as pin-pricks. And then Jim's arms round her, and he was kissing her blind eyes, ana her wet cheeks, and her soft trenlp bling mouth. A warm. golden happi- ness flowed over her. The tears ran down her cheeks. It didn't make you unhappy to cry when there was someone to kiss the tears away.
 "Caroline-my darling! Don't cry! It's all right-it's all over-there's nothing to cry for"
 q thought he was going to take you away to prison."
 50 did I. But he won't now, so there isn't anything to cry about"
 That's just why I'm crying"
 Because you've got nothing to cry about?"
 She nodded vehemently against his shoulder
 "If you'd gone to prison, wouldn't have cried. I'd have told everyone we were engaged, and I wouldn't have cried a single tear. Oh. Jim!"
 "Oh, Caroline!"
 You're sure it's all right?"
 "Yes. If Elmer's recovered con sciousness. I'm clear. If he'd died well, we don't need to think about that, darling.
 Major Anderson rattled the ham, dle before he came back into the room. Having opened the door, he allowed pr. Lefroy to precede him. The Inspector followed. MAJOR ANDERSON went up to WI Jim with his hand out.
 My dear Randall, cant say how pleased am!" He shook hands with him heartily. Wan Berg's statement corroborates yours in every detail. Now what we want is your state- ment in writing"
 Dr. Lefroy was shaking hands too.
 Does Van Berg say what hap pened after l went out?" said Jim.
 Kitty Lefroy's father was a big hearty man with a well-preserved brogue.
 Say? He says everything. And you may be thankful he does, my boy, by all accounts. He says you let yourself out, and all of sudden he heard the window creak and he thought you'd come back. And it's lucky for you he turned round and saw that it wasn't you at all.
 He saw man with cap pulled down over his eyes and revolver in his hand. The man said. Put 'em upl' and Van Berg says he was hanged if he was going to let the emeralds go like that, so he charged him. That's all he knows. The fel- low must have shot him down as he came on. Fortunately. he can de- scribe him."
 "The description tallies with yours," said the inspector. Now if you'll kindly let us have that state- ment-"
 Half an nour later they drove back to Hazelbury West in Jock Ander- sons car. Jim drove. It is to be feared that he had one arm around Caroline. The roads were dark and empty. It would be midnight before they reached the cottage.
 And I expect. Patsy Ann will have been ringing up the police," said Caroline.
 "Let her!" said Jim. "They're our bosom friends-we love them, and they love us. And only few hours ago we skulked in lanes and bid be- hind hedges! somehow don't think Pll go in for being a crook. It's a dogs life Besides, you wouldn't marry me if was crook"
 "'M-" said Caroline.
 Does that mean yes or no?"
 Caroline laughed.
 Tt doesn't mean either."
 What does it mean?"
 She snuggled up to him.
 If you were a crook, it wouldn't be you-but I'd marry you whatever you were"
 They drove into the little garage. locked in the borrowed car. and passed through the dark garden, where the bushes looked like black hummocks.
 Patsy Ann will be wild" said Caroline.
 She slipped in her key and oYene the door.
 Patsy Arbuthnot was sitting at the table, which was filtered with sheets of stiff blue writing paper. They were all covered with Roberts up- right. formal writing. As the door opened. Patsy picked up the first sheet again. It began: My dearest Patsy" It was wonderful to be Rob- ert's dearest. She gazed absently over the top of the she.f at Caro-