The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-11-10
|& Outrageous; Fortune 8lN ~ Razsiexa NeAzao4H

IC<[<N VES11I1NOC%V wife. couldn't contradict her, be- cause as far as having any memory was concerned l might have been a newborn baby.
 "The only thing remembered and I didn't know whether was re- membering it or not-was someone holding up string of square green stones under a bright light.
 And there was fog, and voice talking in the fog-talking about the emeralds and Jimmy Riddell. It wor- ried me to death, because couldn't make out whether 1t was my own voice or not" He paused. Major Anderson said, "This is most extraordinary story, Randall"
 Jim went on again.
 "I'll cut it as short as can. but you've got to understand the sort of state was in. Nesta Riddell said we'd been married on the 18th of July at the Grove Registry office in London, and she told me that had shot Elmer Van Berg and stolen eight very valuable emeralds on the night of the 9th of August. She wanted to know what l had done with the emeralds. She said was on the Alice Arden because l was on my way to Glasgow. She said I'd hid den the emeralds before went, and she wanted to know where they were"
 lNGAJoR ANDERSON took step WI forward.
 Really, Randall, don't know whether you hadn't better see a doc tor. This is the most extraordinary story!"
 Jim Randall laughed.
 q know it sounds extraordinary, but I'm perfectly sane. I'd like to go on if may"
 He went on.
 Bits of my memory were coming back It was like seeing pietures-l could see myself drinking with FL mer Van Berg I knew that I called him Elmer, and that his wife's name was Susie. And when I remembered all that. got the wind up, because it seemed as if must have done it- and there were my finger-prints on the glass I'd used.
 My one idea was to get out of Ledlington. Well, l started out across country without any idea of where l was going. The most dam ming thing was that Nesta Riddell really did think I'd got the emeralds there was no mistake about that.
 "To cut long story short, went to Hale Place, and when l got there ] l remembered my name and who l was. In fact 1 remembered every thing except the time between the first of July and the 18th of August which was when 1 walked up at Happicot."
 The inspector made a note of the dates.
 "I got into the house and stayed there. You can understand that 1 wanted time. made up my mind to wait for a week and see what happened. 1 knew 1 was exposing myself to suspicion, but decided to wait"
 Jim went on speaking.
 During the time I was at Hale Place the house was twice entered. There's room there called the Blue Room. The burglar came straight to | this room on both occasions. The first time he charged me and got away. The second time he got what he had come for-the emeralds."
 "What?" said Major Anderson.
 "They were hidden in the Blue Room. He got away with them, and caught the last train into Ledling- ton, and just missed it. I came on in the morning and watched for Mrs. Riddell.
 q watched the road all day. In the evening Miss Leigh met me. She had her car, and thanks to her l was able to follow Mrs. Riddell when she came out. She had taken her brothers motorcycle. We followed her to St. Leonard's Tower. Miss Leigh remained in the field. and I went on to the ruins.
 "I overheard an interview be- tween Mrs. Riddell and the man. They Quarrelled. She had parked the rmoney she had brought him some where, and absolutely refused to hand it over unless he showed her the emeralds. In the end he gave way. They were on one side of the Tower. and was on the other. with one of those narrow slits between us. He struck match, and there were the emeralds dangling about a yard away from me-" He paused.
 "Well?" said Major Anderson.
 q grabbed them."
 He dived into a pocket and flung a glittering heap of green and pearl upon the inspectors foolscap. "There they are!" he said.
 (Copyight. fsss. J. B. Lippincott Go. J
 In the next chapter the police re.