The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-07-07
Chapter A MRS, DUFRESNE

Chapter A
 MRS. DUFRESNE
 THE dark blue limousine pulled | up outside No. 34 Powhatan Ter. race. It was only little past seven o'clock, but the darkness was as ad- vanced as though the night were hours old. Through the twin cylin- ders of light from the headlights fluttered the vagrant snowflakes that heralded the sequel to the storm of the preceding day. The air was creepy with chill.
 "Wait here for me, no matter how long," Harper instructed the driver.
 He opened the door and entered. There was no one in sight and no sound of activity anywhere. He walked down the hall, unlocked the breakfast-room door, and turned on the wall lights. Whenever he re turned to this locked room, he had a feeling that someone had been there in the interim looking over the exhibits" He had that feeling now, strongly. but could discover no evidence to substantiate 1t.
 Dropping his hat and overcoat on a chair, be went to the fireplace. Sure enough, there was the brass urn in corner of the hearth. ex- actly as Ellen Becker had described it. Harper pulled it forward and handful by handful sifted the sand. Having made sure that nothing was hidden there now. he poured the white sand back into the nsn. smoothed it down, and returned il to it's place.
 Harper went to the door and looked out into the hall. He waited. hearing a quiet footstep. The butler appeared, saw the silent figure watching, and came to him.
 "Where is every one, Andrews?"
 "They are at dinner. sir" He inGi cated door farther down the hall
 And Mrs. Dufresne?"
 Mrs. Duffesne is having dinner i'll her own room. Did you wish to speak to anyone?"
 Not yet. Andrews. Later in the evening will do just as well. Is Donaghy about?'
 I'm sorry. sir. He asked MT. Du- fresne for the evening off
 "What time will he be back?"
 "Eleven-thirty, at the latest. That is the rule. of the house."
 The detective went back into the breakfast-room. took up Mrs. Bu fresne's stained slippers, locked the door behind him, and went quietly up the stairs. Still quietly. he rappcd on the door of Mrs. Dufresnes room. Without any preliminary sound the door was opened foot or so and Miss Burketts red head gleamed in the opening.
 Sergeant Harper pushed against the door gently but firmly and in serted himself through the opening. "You cant come in here." protested the watchdog supplied by the hos tile Dr. Ulrich.
 "No?" queried Harper. smilingly. already inside. Over the nurses | shoulder he saw the mistress of the | house seated in deep armchair. Good evening, Mrs. Dufresne. For. give my intrusion, but it is impera- tive that l speak with you-now." MRS. DUFRESNE was resting M very comfortably in her chair. | her feet on a stool. book open on | her lap, and a soft blue lounging robe covering her. Dr. Ulrich's bandages hid the right side of her | face. The detective turned to the nurse. q wish to talk with Mrs. Dufresne privately. If you will please leave us-Pll ring when I've finished"
 The red-headed woman looked at | her patient in inquiry. But have orders to stay here," she objected. "Dr. Ulrich told me"
 Never mind what Dr. Ulrich told | you"
 "Go, Miss Burkett." There was no denying the authority in that quiet | voice from the armchair.
 Preceded by polite May F" Harper pushed up chair to face the | still figure. II hope your injury is responding to treatment, Mrs. Du- | fresne. understood from Dr. Ulrich | that you would have to keep to a liquid diet for a few days"
 Mrs. Dufresne ignored the subtle | exposure. She reached out her hand | toward the stand at her elbow. On l it were a writing pad, and a pencil. She picked up the latter.
 Let us put an end to these little Actions. please" he said. quietly. If you can hold conversation with Dr. Ulrich, you can talk to me. It is