The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-10-18
Chapter 26 FlNGERPRlNr BOOK

FiNGERPRlNT BOOK
 CAROLINE had the sensation of
 having made horrible error. That she should have followed her old nurses sister was piece of the most devastating bad luck. Perhaps she didn't know her
 Mrs. Rodgers nodded again.
 q knew you at once, miss. though I could see as you didn't know me. You haven't changed mite since Harry 'ud bring you in far cup of tea and some of my m'Et honey. I've put on bit since those days, so l made sure you didn't know me-"
 Mrs. Rodgers"
 "Im a-going to tell you what Mrs. Henry told me, and I'm not a-going to ask you why you want to know. because maybe I know already and 2 maybe I don't-and anyway least said, soonest mended."
 "Yes?" said Caroline in whisper.
 What l said in the train is nei- ther here nor there. There isn't @ servant up at the Hall as don't know there was a tray and glasses in the study the night Mir. Van Berg was shot. and the housemaid see with her own eyes how the police took the 6nger-prints - a clapper-tongued woman if there ever was one-so there ain't no secrets there. No-it was the butler told Mrs. Henry what I'm a-telling you"
 "What did she tell you?"
 "When they had finished taking the finger-prints and all the rest of 1t, the inspector he sees all the serv- ants separate. and then he has the butler back and he says.
 "' understand he says, as MT. Van Berg kep' book with all his friends finger-prints in it. he says. That's right says Jackson-that's the buffers name. Well, says the inspector, I wants to see that book
 And Jackson, he says, Its al ways a-laying on MT. Van Berg's ta, ble. and whenever he has visitor he gets him to make his mark and sign his name.' And the inspector laughs and says. Very handy for us, MT. Jackson N
 Caroline's eyes widened.
 And then it wasn't 50 handy after hll." said Mrs. Rodgers-'for 10 and be cold the book wasn't nowheres to be. seen"
 The blood came back into Caro. lines cheeks with a rush.
 And where was it?" she de- manded.
 Pushed right down be'ind all the books at the back of the bookshelf. They went on looking till they'd found it. And then what do you think?"
 T don't know" said Caroline, trembling.
 Mrs. Rodgers looked at her with kind of awful pity.
 There was page tore out" sheI said.
 Perhaps 1t was because she had been awake all night, perhaps it was because she had had a dreadful pic. ture in her own mind of finger-print with Jim's name signed underneath 1t, but at these words. she fainted. CHE was really only unconscious U for about minute. but it was long enough for Mrs. Rodgers to have laid her down flat. She had got a new cabbage-leaf out of the basket and was tanning her with it.
 Caroline opened her eyes wide.
 
 She got up on her elbow. and re- membered why she had fainted-she had been so horribly afraid that Mrs. Rodgers was going to say that the police had found Jim's finger prints. A page had been torn out Was 1t that page? Who had torn it out? i
 Mrs. Rodgers was kneeling on the grass. She sat back on her heels, flaming herself now instead of caro. line.
 "Who tore out the pager" said Caroline. She didn't feel as if she could wait single moment before she asked that question.
 Who do you suppose?" said Mrs. Rodgers.
 T don't know" Who would tear it out, if 1t wasn't the one who shot MT. Van Berg? It