The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-06-12
Chapter 27 THE SEARCH
"THEN what kind of game-ez


 THE SEARCH "THEN what kind of game-ex-
 plain yourself. Andrews?"
 Ut was you, MT. Harper, who told me that MT. Dufresne had given you that information about the re- volver." Andrews answered patient ly. q did not feel that it was my business to contradict his state ments. see now that 1t was just a little trick on your part and with draw what said previously"
 Harper was boiling, not only over the exposure of his ruse. so neatly and effectively checkmated, but over the collapse of his promising secret.
 Pierre Dufresne clapped his old retainer on the shoulder. "A good and faithful servant" he intoned. laughing merrily at the detectives discomfiture.
 Harper glared angrily at the i'm passive Andrews. This Is serious matter. warn you. For the time be- ing the police are in charge of this house. Your duty as a citizen to up- hold the law is greater than your duty to an employer"
 But you lied to me, sir," protest ed the gaunt old man. with davas- tating simplicity that sent his mas ter into fresh peal of laughter.
 Harper turned to Dufresne. "AIl right, sir, but that is not the whole story. Detective Lafferty saw this gun himself. We know 1t was there. |"
 q repeat then. that do not own such a weapon and have never seen it nor handled it."
 Harper bowed. We will accept that statement, MT. Dufresne. But we know the gun exists. that 1t is in this house, and with your permission we will search until we find it."
 You may search as thoroughly as you please. Sergeant"
 "Lafferty bring all the others here. want everybody to stay in one room while the search is going on."
 Dufresne carelessly selected cig arctic. And what do you expect to prove?" he drawled.
 These cold-blooded murders were committed by some one in this house." Sergeant Harper snapped land intend to get at the truth. no matter whom 1t involves"
 The household assembled in the small drawing-room. a pleasant and many-windowed room on the main floor, adjoining the breakfast-room THIS enforced gathering was quiet l enough on the surface but under meath it was seething and boiling with curiosity and excitement. The Sergeant's brief and uncompromis- ing assertion that the case had changed from an unexplained double homicide to an equally unexplained double murder had set the house hold by the ears.
 One by one they denied any knowledge even of the existence of the revolver Harper sought. In the first flush of surprise they did not gather the implication that the mur- derer was not only alive but one of how Thof dawned on them a little later and placed an awkward restraint on the conversation.
 Harper, Lafferty. and the two po- licemen conducted the search, hav- ing commanded the company of Mrs. Whitmore, not only because she had the keys to all the locked places in the house, but also to witness that all household and individual proper. ty rights were respected. Silent and sullen, her dark brows drowning, Mrs. Whitmore accompanied the of ficers.
 Four men, trained and expert enced in such matters, can make short work of any room when the sole object in question Is as heavy I and bulky as a revolver. but there were many rooms and closets in the house and Harper's methods were painstaking and thorough. He had set out with full confidence in the success of the search.
 As their absence heightened, the waiting group began to split up along lines of natural gravitation 1 Captain Macklin and Pierre Du fresne sat on window-seat. Director Connors had been ob | liged to leave. owing to the press of other affairs. and he had left with out giving any definite answer tc Dufresne's request.
 The faithful Andrews and the stolid. good-natured John Whitmore stood in corner and talked together | in low tones. There was sardonic glitter in the old buffers eyes and a determined jut of the jaws. for he was still feeling elated over ths