The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-06-10
Chapter B
THE SILENT PRIEST

THE SILENT PRIEST GOT up on my elbow and peered toward the door. and finally rose silently and went to 1t. The table which 1 lad again placed before Il was undisturped.
 "Mice." told myself. "In the walls. The place Is full of them. probably" And went back to bed But not this time to sleep. Among several her things determined 10 get a few quiet words with Marcel in the morning.
 l should also remember to ask Lovschiem for key to my room. After all. keys existed. and 1 myself intended to make no casual matter of 1t.
 There was something decidedly unpleasant about that deserted wing and now that the wind had gone down 1 particularly disliked the way various creaks and small mysterious rustles came to life.
 With dawn fell asleep again and woke late to gray and troublous day.
 When Marcel brought my coffee and some very hard rolls 1 began:
 Marcel. you { ow. of course that I'm in rather bad fix about this murder?"
 Oh. yes. he ane1.
 Well. 1t develops that 1t is of the utmost importance to both Miss Tally and me to discover every thing possible about the murder. myself am in some danger of being hanged for it-or guillotined oT whatever they do-and Miss Tal ly-"
 Miss Tally is in danger. also, finished Marcel quickly. his eyes snapping Me. know that"
 Well. then" l said slowly. "l won't press you. Marcel, but wan' you to think 1t over. Miss Tally says you have been very kind to heI perhaps when you consider the matter for a time you mayer recall something you've seen oi heard that will help us discover the real murderer"
 He nodded soberly.
 You know, then, that didn' do it?"
 had gone too far.
 Monsieur is not criminal" sait Marcel. "l cannot say more-but will think, It is possible-perhaps Monsieur would like his bath now?'
 And after running the tub .futlsp almost lukewarm waterf he ef abruptly. There wns about his de parture a suggestion Of escape, ant I could only hope that his liking fol Sue Tally would work in bur favor I wanted to help Sue. of course. bn at the same time there's no us, denying that wanted quite al much to help myself.
 The hotel had been deserted when first came down in the morn ing: only PLcci cooked suspicion! eye toward me as 1 went througl the lobby. But when l returned from my walk Madame Grethe wal at the desk-her eyes looked yer! green and knowing, and she smilet secretively as she spoke to me--ant Mrs. Byng and the priest were sit ting in the lounge. Mrs. Byng wal knitting furiously on some enor nous garment. i THE place was silent except fo ! the priests newspaper rustlini now and then and Mrs. Byng' needles clicking. looked up: th skylight was gray and the encirclinl galleries were empty and bare an the doors blank. It was not. to sa. the least, cheerful spot. and 4 was rather appalling to think tha we'd all got to stay there until tn police gave us permission to leave
 I sat down fairly near the priest I got out my cigarettes: Pucc | transferred his attention to tn watch on my wrist.
 T'm sorry." said, across the of vious barrier of the newspaper "But-may I have a match?" | Mrs. Byng's needles clicked. an she gave me sharp look. and he equine nose lifted little as if sniffed battle. The priests newspi per rustled reluctantly as he shifte 1t to one hand. The flaming rad ance of his beard came into viev he reached for the box of matche lying before him on the small |, ble and passed 1t over to me. "Thanks," murmured, lit m cigarette. and as he immersed hin self in the newspaper at once. persisted: "You speak Englisl then"
 | He gave me a morose look lfol | the edge of the netsnaner sff.