The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-10-24

 study. She may have heard more than she said-she may have recog- nized my voice."
 Wouldn't she have said?"
 "I don't know-we were pretty good friends-she'd know I wouldn't =" He broke off sharp. Suppose by any horrible chance he and Elmer had had row. Sup pose Susie had heard them quarrel ling. And then Elmer Van Berg had been found shot. Would Susie have kept his photograph out after that? Or would she have pushed it out of sight with nervous, shaking hands?
 He lost bit of what Caroline was saying something about finger prints. Then he got it. She was talk ing about Elmer's finger-print book.
 There was a page torn out" said Caroline.
 | He felt the shock of that as she had felt it.
 "When?"
 "Oh afserwards-when the police found it. You see, you were right about the drinks. There was a tray and glasses. and the police took the finger-prints. And then the butler told them about MT. Van Berg,s book. He told them it was on the table. but when they looked for it, it wasn't there. They found it stuffed down behind the bookcase. And l there was a page torn out
 "A page torn out!" Then, sharply, How did they know?'
 "The cook says she remembers the page. She hasn't told the police yet. Mrs. Rodgers says she won't unless she is asked, but they might csk her any minute. She says she remembers because there wasn't any name on that page, only initials. | suppose she takes an interest in | Gnger-prints because of her husband being a policeman. suppose"
 What were the initials?"
 Caroline looked at him piteously. It hurt too much. Her carnation colar was all gene. Her voice was whisper as she sald,
 "J.R."
 yIM laughed. His laughter had l .J how'd cf'pe to f.
 "gyc'rc putting the rope rosaa my ..co.. all right" he said.
 "Jim."
 "They were ny finger-prints = l remember ral.ing them and putting ! " initials there. But I'll swear" , E,o.cfoppad skort.
 "Wta.?" ssid Caroline quickly.
 He laughed again.
 q y.a5 going to say 1 could swear IT hadn't torn the page out, but l c.a't-I cant swear to anything. Go cn. Are there any more Gamning bits of cviGonce?"
 Caroline clenched her hands. | "The cooks nephew saw you in the drive. He used to caddy for you "a boy called Willie Bowman | willie? He knew mel"
 "Yes, he did. He told his aunt-he said it was about midnight"
 That's bit of bad luck, but it can't be helped. don't seem to have covered my tracks very well = do I?"
 | He saw Caroline looking at him with loving, anxious eyes. The can de light was bright on her ruffled hair. He looked away from her and spoke from where he stood with his back to the hearth.
 i've got to make up my mind what I'm going to do."
 Yes"
 | He squared his shoulders.
 "What 1 should like to do is to open up the house, get in servants, and go about my affairs as I've a perfect right to do."
 "Yes." said Caroline. Her eyes frightened. Jim at Hale Place-Jim quite near! It was like the most lovely dream. But she knew quite well that it was dream. | That's what I'd like to do. What I expect I ought to do is to go up to town and see Robert Arbuth- not" He paused. The pause lasted long time. ...
 | What I'm going to do is what will look most horribly damning if things go wrong and it comes to a trial. I'm going to mark time" He began to pace the room again with a certain restless energy. You see if come out into the open, everyone will ask me questions, and every time it's question l can't answer {, I'll be making things worse. Where have I been-and what have been doing. Sometimes I'm on the edge of remembering, too want to give myself chance-stay here and keep quiet"
 E (Copyright. 19ss, J. B. Lppincott Co.,, Tomorrow. Patsy has highly