The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-11-03
Chapter fl
THE MAJOR CALLA

THE MAJOR cALL1 A s JIM RANDALL entered the free fA library in Ledlington. car stopped at Miss Patsy Arbuthnot's wicket gate and a small dapper man got out. He slammed the door of he car behind him. clicked open the gate, marched up the path to the front door. and delivered smart rat-tat.
 He wore an air of military i'm patience. and after the briefest of intervals his knock was repeated, and so loudly as to bring Patsy Ann put of the scullery without waiting to dry her hands. Her consternation was considerable at finding the Chief Constable on the doorstep at such an hour-the breakfast things not cleared away; her feet-Patsy was proud of her feet-in her old; est shoes; and her hands and arms dripping with the geranium dye in which she had just immersed an aged pink sports coat.
 Her color rose. She put up hand to her hair, left a gruesome stain on her temple, and said in an agitated voice,
 "Oh good morning. Major Ander- son-Fm dyeing.'
 Hang it all, the girl looked as if she had been killing pig.
 With this in the back of his mind, he removed his hat and said, Good morning."
 I'm afraid I'm an early visitor, he proceeded, but I've come on a matter of business. Perhaps might see Miss Leigh
 Patsy indicated a chair, apolo- gized for the breakfast things, and ran upstairs in despair to inform Caroline.
 Major Anderson is downstairs, and my coats only half done-and just look at mel"
 Caroline was dusting her dress ing-table. She strengthened up with her back to Patsy.
 Major Anderson?"
 "Yes - the Chief Constable = on business. What can he want? He asked for you. I must just get some of this stuff off my hands. Do come down."
 "All right" said Caroline without moving.
 She put on little rouge and went down.
 Major Anderson was looking out of the window. He might have been admiring the dahlias. He turned as she came down the stair. said. How do you do?" and pulled chair away from the breakfast table for her.
 Miss Leigh" he said. I've called at what, I hope, is not very incon venient hour to make some inquiries about-well, about Jim Randall"
 Caroline said, "Yes?" Her voice sounded deep and mournful. It die not shake: that was one comfort. NTOW. Miss Leigh" said Major
 NAnderson-"perhaps you would n't mind telling me when you last heard from Jim Randall"
 Tt was the beginning of August, said Caroline.
 Can you give me the date?"
 "Yes-the fourth.
 Would you mind telling me whai he said?"
 "Oh no. It was just few lines. was staying with Mrs. Ogilvie al Craigellachie. Jim was coming there too. He wrote to say he would take a steamer up the coast"
 "Did he say what steamer?"
 "No."
 Did you hear again?"
 ''No, we didn't"
 Major Anderson leaned forward
 Had you any reason to suppose that he was on the Alice Arden?' His small, sharp grey eyes fixet Caroline.
 "We thought he must have been.'
 Why"
 "He didn't come, and he didn' write."
 T see. You say he didn't write You're sure of that? You're sure ht hasn't communicated with you since the wreck of the Alice Arden?"
 Quite sure," said Caroline. Sht wondered whether this was lie What was communicating"
 Now, Miss Leigh-I believe vol went to the Elston cottage hospita in response to broadcast message stating that they had a man there who appeared to have lost his mem ory. It was believed that his name was Jim Riddell, or Randall. Yol went there?"