The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-06-16

standing there, glowing in the fresh cold air of the morning. A spark of laughter was dancing in her eyes, and her cheeks were pink. She wore some kind of tweedish-looking jacket and skirt of a soft, warm gray, and a scarlet beret was perched on one side of her bright hair. and there was a touch of something scarlet at her throat. and she looked altogether very nice.
 Nothing" said slowly.
 Her face sobered.
 "Why-what is the matter? What have l done?" she asked in a small voice.
 Nothing at all. Nothing. There's nothing wrong" 1 realized that was babbling and drew myself up short. After all. l could scarcely tell the girl that I wished she wouldn't manage to look like that.
 She would say, and rightly: Why on earth not?" And I would say az rightly: No reason at all. It's noth- ing to me. Nothing" was bab- bling again. fortunately not aloud this time.
 We were only talking" I said more lucidly. "The priest and l. He explained the matter of his false alibi."
 l told her of the result of the en- counter. and she listened gravely.
 Tt sounds" she said when I'd finished. rather reasonable. At least 1 think it will sound rather reasonable to the police"
 Perhaps" l agreed. "Neverthe- less-I think the priest is not what he seems"
 She looked suddenly white again. as if my words had brought her too suddenly back to the horror that had visited the old hotel.
 You don't think Father Robart- Oh. no. can't consider 1t. We can't think. that the murderer is here, Here among us. All the time. That would be too dreadful. Why-we would all be-gibbering idiots"
 "l don't know" 1 said honestly. "l don't like to frighten you. but you must remember that 1t Is at least a possibility. Good God, how wish you could leave!" GIT ISN'T just flattering to think
 that you want me out of the way" she said lightly. although her eyes leaped to mine.
 There's nothing should like better" l said brusquely. I'm sorry, but I cant be light-hearted about it."
 Her smile vanished. She said gravely:
 Let's not begin that again. I can't leave even If 1 would
 She spoke very stifly and coldly. and l felt puzzled and dismayed; 1 had only wanted to be sure she was safe.
 She leaned a little toward me and said suddenly:
 Don't look like that. You've been everything that's" after a pause she said kind" and l felt pleased and yet rather let down. "I'll be very careful. l won't take any chances at all. But I can't belleve-it's mad even to consider the murderer's be- ing one of us here in the hotel. Don't you see that it is?"
 "I don't know" l said morosely. "I should say this crazy, dark. silent. old place might harbor-anything."
 She shivered again and moved un. consciously nearer me and cried: Don't"
 "I'm a fool" I said briskly. "I'm an idiot. You're quite right. There's nothing for you to fear in the hotel"
 I'm not-that is. I won't be scared. More than I can help at any rate" she added honestly. "Is your shoulder better?"
 Ut really isn't bad. It's only stiff and sore"
 Has the doctor been here yet?"
 "No. Now then" hated to drag her back to the problems before her. but still it had to be done, SO that she might get her millions, "have you asked Lovschiem for the envelope you had him put in the safer"
 "Yes." Her eyes had darkened again.
 'He gave 1t to you?"
 "No."
 "No!" l had expected 1t. ~uuas excuse did he give? Here, do sit down."
 She took the chair absently, and 1 drew one near her and sat down also. and Pucci at once Tapped and sidled and chung till he got onto my knee and then finally to my shoulder, with his head very near my mouth in conspiratorial way.
 "He said." Sue told me gravely. "that-he'd lost the combination" fCopyrioht. Isss. Mionon c. Eberhart)
 Mrs. 5yn9 contributes, tomorrow,