The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1933-09-29


of the first finger to the root of the
thumb. 49, n 81
He didn't see Minis carefully pol
ished crate with the dazzle of shaw
ings and the small bright blue tiles;
he saw Van Berg's hand with the
scar on. it, and he knew how the
scar had come there. Out of all the
things that he had forgotten he re-
membered this one-that Van Berg
had got that scar playing with pet
monkey.
No, it wasn't a bite. The monkey
had got fooling with razor. 1t was
a clean cut. He had forgotten every
thing in the world. but he hadn't for
gotten Van Berg's monkey.
His head swan for moment.
Then he Strengthened up and half
turned, still leaning on the mantel-
piece. He caught curious look on
Nesta's face, watching look, but
it went past him.
as Van Berg dead?" he said.
mot yet" said Nesta.
as he bad?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"If he doesn't die for year and
a day, they can't hang you.R as
His voice came at her with an an
CRY leap.
rs he bad?" N
so So" And then: "It's not you.
fault he's not dead. You let him
have it all right"
He went over to the window and
threw it up. He had to push past the
pink geraniums: one of the bright
blooms snapped off. The room had
suddenly seemed crowded with used
air. Outside, light wet wind blew
veeringly. There was rain in the
wind, but it would not fall yet
awhile. 1t struck damp and cool
against his face, and he was glad
Of it. es.slg 3..n N. IL
Nesta's voice came from close Ne-
hind him.
where did you put the emeralds,
Jimmy?" y tt I.
He turned blindly. pushed past
her, and went laundering through
the door and out into the street.
CAROLINE drove to Marley.
~ which, as the day nurse had told
her. was only eight miles from Ell
ston. She found charming little viii
lage with stone walls and matched
roofs.
The matched roofs were doubt
less a refuge for earwigs, but
though Marley contained some six
hundred inhabitants. with the usual
allowance Of cows, cats. pigs, hens
and children, 1t did not, SO far as
Caroline could ascertain, conceal
Mr.. and Mrs. James Riddell.
At first this made Caroline angry.
A very bright color bloomed in her
cheeks, and she thought of several
things which she would have liked
to say to Mrs. Riddell. Later on.
while she was having tea In the
prettiest of the cottage gardens. she
had brain-wave. There were ear
wigs in the thatch. She had just
fished the third out of her tea. when
the brain waved and she wanted to
know why Mrs. Riddell had said she
was coming to Marley when she
wasn't coming to Marley.
Caroline had, of course, taken the
greatest possible dislike to what
she described as that snatching wo-
man. But even people whom you dis
like very much don't as rule tell
entirely purposeless lies; SO, why.
had the Snatcher said she was COM
ing to Marley?
Caroline drank some Of her tea
hastily. because she was very
thirsty and she wanted to get in be-
fore the next earwig. She had feel
ing that there were going to be more
earwigs. and sure enoughswhen she
put down her cup there was one in
the saucer. She thought very seri-
ously about Mrs. James Riddell.
And the more she thought. the less
she could think Of any reason why
she should have told that lie-un-
less-
The unless" was so exciting that
Caroline felt quite dazzled by 1t.
Why does anyone give false ad-
dress?
Because they don't want to give
real one--and they only don't want
to give a real one because they've
something they're ashamed Of or
something they've got to hide. Mrs.
Riddell had come and fetched Jim
away from the Elston cottage hos
pitaL
She had said that he was Jim Rid
dell, and she had said that she was
going, to Marley. Well. she hadn't
told the truth about going to Mar.
ley. so why should she have told
the truth about Jim being Jim Rid
dell?.4s sss. }. 4 tsas. d %
(copmfght. 1858. J. B. Lippiicott Co.
H.S>