The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-07-10
Chapter 46 WHO IS "FRANcIs"!

" Don't interrupt me. please said Lorn crankiiy. Its very sim pie. You see. when Tally came to consult me he'd just slipped on wet street in traffic and got in volved somehow with taxicab and flying glass. It wasn't serious. he told me. but his face was heavily 'bandaged. That was. of course, fully six months ago. And I've not ;. seen him since"
 Where was that meeting?" .I "1n New York"
 "Was he the same general build as this man?" v
 "Of course" said Lorn Inpatient ly. Do you think l haven't tried every test? I'm willing % admit that he may have deliberately got himself Up to give me no definite way of identifying him again. But whatever was the purpose. the fact remains that can't tell. whether this man is Francis Tally or not"
 But this man recognized you. Spoke first. Called you by name."
 The scorn in Lorn's gaze made Itself felt though he was still in the shadow.
 Have you failed to consider a possible connection between the Lovschiems and this man? Of their informing him carefully of everything they have managed to discover?. In case-of course-he Is actually not Francis Tally?"
 No" said slowly. No I've not failed to do that" Several things returned to me, Grethe's sudden activity after that period of curiously patient. cat-like waiting: the way she'd looked at the new conner when he fioundered; the way his eyes had sought hers. there in the lounge-had it been for guid. ance?
 Briefly l told Lorn of the time table Loyschiem had tried to con ceal: he too. he agreed. had noted the curious effect the man called Francis Tally gave of looking to Grethe for, help
 "The thing to do." said Lorn, "as see it. is simply to sit tight until the Paris detectives come. They'll make an end to things in a hurry"
 But, Miss Tally" said.
 Well advise her to hang on to her token. take no chances. and wait for the detectives. In the mean time" He paused. and then con tinued: "l may as well tell you. Sundean. that think know what the motive power is,"
 '"You mean" cried .excitedly, forcing him for once to a definite statement. "the murderer?
 Don't ask me any more now. Sun dean. And 1 must go. Tell Miss Tally what I've told you. will your
 We walked together to the stair way. He went down. met Mrs, Byng and Sue on the landing. crossed the lounge and entered the lobby. At the desk Lorn paused and spoke to Lovschiem. Yet-of course. that did not mean that Lovschiem was. after all. the murderer
 | TURNED to meet Sue and Mrs Byng.
 q suppose" Mrs. Byng was shouting. "'that we must eat din. ner in this den of perdilion. But don't worry darling" She moved ahead of us in the narrow corridor. walking with ! strange stiffness and lack of freedom brought on proba- ply by her .entangIing garments.
 Sue dropped back a little with me. and under the continued boom of Mrs. Byng's voice asked to see Franciss letter again. Envelope and all. 1 said. As soon as pos sible."
 She nodded, "rll get it,~e.,. ,-s,.
 Mrs. Byng. still talking. stopped in her own room. closed tue door. and l heard her lock 1t. l went into Sues room with her and she handed me the square white envelope. l took it and moved under the light to look at the address more closely.
 That light. Is very dim" said Sue. "ill turn en this one oyer the table,"
 She moved to the door: heard it close and waited for the little click E of the light switch. It did not come.
 1 heard her light footsteps be- hind me. and the bottom dropped out of the world.
 Put up your hands," she said coldiy and crisply.
 1 felt the cold pressure of pistol against my neck.
 "l mean It." she repeated in a hard voice I'd never heard before. Put up your hands" E
 It was impossible to obey. In fact. and in spite of that ominous cold touch on mJ neck, 1 believe l was too numb with shock to lift my hands.
 |. Then slowly turned. The girl backed away so that she still held me in range of that small pistol. The girl was not Sue TaIly-or rar