The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-06-26
Chapter 36 NEW COMPLICATIONS

[ WAS on my feet. was barely
 conscious of Lorn standing just behind me. Sue was standing too, looking white and incredulous. and even her lips looked pale and stiff. Her eyes were wide and fastened on the newcomers face as if in frantic effort to recall 1t.
 "Francis." she said in whisper.
 He was fairly tall. moderately slender. and blond with grayish eyes. He wasn't altogether hand some, for his features were little too fine for man, and his mouth was not firm. He wore gold-rimmed spectacles, which gave him a pc dantic look. and he was muff1ed up in coats and gloves and e woolen scarf.
 His eyes back of the spectacles were very sharp-as sharp as Grethe's. who was watching him with an expression that indicated strongly that here was at last the mouse she'd been waiting for. He smiled little uneasily and said, in a rather uncertain voice:
 "Sue. suppose"
 She said nothing. just looked at him. and as no one else spoke he seemed to feel that his greeting was a bit lacking in something, for he put out his hand and smiled more blandly and said:
 Its difficult to know just how to greet you. Sister. We are almost strangers" ,t.
 Quite" said Sue In frozen small voice, and laid her hand moment. arily in his.
 Francis Tally was growing more at ease. He looked at me and then discovered Lorn.
 "Ah," he said at once. How do you do, Lorn"
 How do you do." Lorn said in an unexcited way. quite as if he'd known all along that brother Fran cis was about to turn up.
 Everything going well?" asked Francis Tally easily.
 Lorn's eyebrows lifted a fraction of an inch.
 Not exactly we'll" he said. "Still. Miss Tally is quite safe"
 This" said Sue. lis MT. Sun dean."
 Francis Tally looked sharply at me.
 "Sundean?" said he.
 "He has been very kind" said Sue stiffly. as If words were extremely difficult And exactly then Mari. anne. in the dining room. sounded the clattering bell which announced lunch.
 "It's-lunch." said Sue in a re- lieved way. You'll share my table-Francisf"
 Good" said Francis. also looking relieved. T had very early break. fast. What's the trouble here. though why all the police about the placer"
 For full moment no one spoke.
 Then Sue said in a voice that did not belong to her:
 "I'll tell you after lunch"
 He looked puzzled and I think would have questioned further. but Grethe silkily intervened.
 You'll want to wash before lunch," she said. smiling pleasantly into his eyes. "I'll show you to a room. We are-er-temporarily without a porter" ' ORN coughed. I realized that for = the first time in my knowledge he seemed to be what in another man should have called thoroughly disconnected. He said: "Er-Mr. Tally-you'd better-er see the police first"
 "See the police?" Tally paused in the act of turning to follow Madame Grethe.
 i "Yes." said Lorn. "You see well. the police are here because there've been three murders here In the last few days.
 "Three murders?" said Francis. "You don't mean here? Right here in the hotel?"
 "Yes. We are all practically failed here for the time being"
 It struck me that Francis Tally was either an extraordinarily brave man or he was extraordinarily cal lous. He said:
 Hmm. Well. What's the reason for it all?" "a.
 Lorn's hidden dark eyes went to Madame Grethe. He said cautiously:
 'l don't know. But I doubt sf they'll let you stay here."
 Luckily for you. wanted to add.