The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-07-07
Chapter A
SUE "DISAPPEARS"

SUE E"DlSAPPEAhS
 i, HUNG across the room, my own revolver in one hand. In that second the door had stopped it's brief motion and was firm. though I'd heard no noise.
 Come out!" l said.
 There was not a sound inside the wardrobe. I started to fling open the door, and the door resisted. 1 pulled and exerted all my force. and it still resisted. It was during that moment that was conscious of hearing a voice in the hall, but only taintly. e Af
 The key was not in the lock. Was 1t possible that the thing was locked from the inside? At least. could not get 1t open, and there was some one inside the wardrobe.
 1 glanced about for a chair or table could swing at the door. And in that glance saw that Sue was gone. dropped the chair and was at the door. was in the corridor. Sue was not there.
 tried to call to her: Sue Sue. believe did call out. but my voice must have been husky and strained. tor although she was very Lear she said afterward that she dic not hear me, did not even know that there was someone in the ward robe. a.Fk 3s ls
 1 ran down the hall, past Mrs. Byng's door. and into the intersect. ing corridor And then. with . DO liceman trying to detain me-and l daresay l looked rather mad-I ran back to the corridor that passed Sues room. ,>3
 And there was Sue in the very act of opening the door of Mrs. Byng's room and coming from it into the hall. talking contentedly with Mrs. Byng in the room beyond as she did so. .
 stepped abruptly. The relief was so great to see her there. not a hair. on her head touched, that 1 felt actually a little dizzy and queer.
 "There you are." l said breath lessly.
 She looked at me unconcernedly as l came nearer.
 Mrs. Byng opened her door and spoke to me-asked me to step in her room moment" She saw. l suppose. something of my feeling in my. face. for she added quickly and anxiously:s "i thought you heard her speak.-What is it?"
 There's someone in the ward robe in your. room." said rapidly. recovering myself. "Tell this DO uceman. will you?"
 Her eyes darkened with fright as she spoke quickly to the man. His own face took on suddenly an acute iy uneasy look. but he had the grace to turn rapidly toward her room. and we both pressed through the door. crossed to the wardrobe and pulled at the door.
 A ND it swung readily open.
 H There was no shot. There was no motion. There was no sound. There was only a sort of vacant space where Sues gowns had been pushed back on their hangers
 We'll, l knew what I'd seen. l knew the wardrobe door had not budged under my hand. though I'd pulled hard and it could not have been stuck. But the policeman didn't believe me or didn't want tl believe me. and in either case the effect would have been the same. And by that time l didn't see my. self that there was much use start ing a search for the person who had beat such a nasty and skilled retreat during those few moments when I'd been in the main corridor q But was interested to note that the wardrobe lock actually did go clear through into the inside. and the key was on the inside. Certain fly no place for a key in wardrobe
 said finally to Sue: VI r 7 a-''''- h "You and Mrs. Byng go on down to the lounge to tea. I'll go with you to the stairway and watch until you are safe insthe lounge. Promise fme to stay near the others.@ It ran Ithrough my mind that 1t was in the very lounge that little Marcel had ibeen killed. But had been the onlJ lother in the room. then-I and the Ec0ckatoo.
 aF The policeman, relieved. vanish led. Mrs. Byng stalked beside us fl00king Tor all the world ike a taf land very untidy bolster. As we emerged into fhe galleried sp2cl