The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-06-24
Chapter 35 SUES PREDIcAMEN1


 was an honest priest who acciden tally knew too much about one o the other murders and his knowl sdge was so dangerous and so in eliminating that he had to. be- si Ienced at once; or he was. as MT sundean thinks, no priestat all" "Ifno priest. then what?" [ 4 Lorn shrugged. "If not a priest, then certainly 8 conspirator."
 Remember his searching Miss Tally's room" Lorn looked at me soberly. "You are sure that he carried nothing in his hands when you saw him come from her room?"
 "l saw nothing"
 Lorn turned to Sue. l. And you are sure nothing was gone?" "Yes," said Sue at once. Her eyes met Lorn's steadily, and her expres. sion did not change. although it seemed to me that Lorn's gaze be came sharper.
 If he had come upon the object token-whateve it is that Is to prove your identity" ventured Lorn specu- latively and rather guardedly. his eyes still searching Sues face, then that would provide motive for his murder" f "Of course" said Sue briefly. Al. though that would presuppose sev- eral different people trying to obtain the-token.
 Two. at least" said Lorn. Not counting your eventual substitute" Sue shivered. "l think now you are both right" she said. "I will go to the police this afternoon"
 There was short silence. . The lounge was empty except for us. and bare and chilly, Above us were those blank gallery railings, and all around us the secretive dark old hotel. The Lovschiems were In the lob by. 1 had watched them carefully during the mornings inquiry and excitement. but they were guarded. both of them-guarded and wary and inscrutable. although Marcus looked frightened under his mask and glistened more than usual.
 But Grethe was cool and calm., her face set in properly and innocently shocked lines. and her green eyes shining and cool and unfathomable. Mrs. Byng had promptiy-or as promptly as the police would permit retired with her shawls and her temperament to her own room, where she was, had no doubt. well barricaded. ,n. Marianne, no longer hysterical but dark and sullen and remo ote, was in some neither region with, 1 supposed, the chattering cook.
 aA. 0NLY the cockatoo remained dia. V bolically unperturbed. As watched he Topped awkwardly to the floor from Grethe's graceful shoulder, waddled along 1t to the door to the courtyard. and paused to examine with handsomely flared crest and knowing and speculative eye the boot heel of policeman who stood there. He opened his curved beak duhously. paused to scratch with vigor under one wing. and said thoughtfully:
 If we only knew exactly where the danger lies"
 When we discover that, we will have the murderer" said Lorn. "It may not be as complete a mystery as you seem to think. Things have a way of breaking suddenly"
 Perhaps. But yesterday felt sure the man pretending to be a priest"
 You don't know yet that he wasn't" said Lorn softly.
 "Do you want to bet that the DO. lice won't discover his papers to be forged?"
 "Oh-no." said Lorn temperately "He probably was no priest. But 1t's better to be quite sure of these things before resting case lon them"
 "Well. in any case. 1 felt he was the murderer. Now--I don't know someone certainly killed him. And there's the nicotine again. to link it with the murder of the man called Stravsky."
 '"Yes." said Lorn slowly. "If the priest had taken anything yesterday