The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-06-15
Chapter 30 PUZZLED HOUSEKEEPER

l l over the garage?" Harper lsked.
 Since about the middle of De ,ember."
 When did the decorators finish" About two weeks ago."
 "Why didn't you move back to he house"
 MT. Dufresne thought 1t just as we'll to leave things as they were lntil the house was opened again. There was to be big party then. l believe"
 Then, since the middle of De ,ember there has been no one stay Ing in this house at night?"
 NO. After the workmen left each lay MT. Holiday locked up and brought me the keys. Every morn .ng he came for them, so the men could get in and work"
 Were you here in the house at all yesterday?"
 "Yes, in the afternoon. l was in very room of the house."
 What then?"
 q locked up and went back"
 "Was it showing then?"
 Just beginning"
 "Your husband was there all the time? In the evening""
 "Yes."
 During the evening, did you at any time look out of the window. ,ver toward the house"
 Mot that 1 recall. We went to bed early. The next thing we knew he phone was ringing and Andrews was telling me that some one had been killed in the breakfast-room and to hurry over. So we got up and dressed"
 "Mfs. Whitmore. what would you say if told you that this house has been frequently occupied at night during the last few weeks?'
 The housekeeper stared at him without the slightest change in her grim expression.
 Am 1 to imply from your silence that you don't believe me?"
 "I don't believe it," she snapped. "Lt's impossible. would have known"
 Well. it happened. Probably 1t was the man who was killed last night. In fact it's possible these nocturnal visits began as far back As last October. while you were still living here in the house."
 That's absurd" Mrs. Whitmore declared.
 Perhaps l can prove it to you, When this place was closed for the summer the ash-pits for the fire places were cleaned out?"
 Certainly"
 Well, if you will look into the pit from this room you will find quite an accumulation of ashes there-wood ashes. That means those ashes have accumulated since last summer. In other words. some one has been using that fireplace"
 For the first time Mrs. Whitmore looked startled. But the hearth was always clean and ready" she muttered. "I would have seen had it been used. I've been through this room a dozen times"
 "Of course the hearth was clean it was swept clean every time il was used and the ashes put down the chute. Fresh logs were left in place From the amount of ash in the pit I'd say the fire had been lit half g dozen times"
 MRS. WHITMORE pondered this M in puzzled silence.
 While the logs were beginning t, burn, smoke would be coming iron the chimney" the detective contin ued, 'I take it that you never no ticed that from your windows?"
 "No. No. We never saw any thing like that or we would have looked into it."
 Another thing, Mrs. Whitmore These two decanters were found or this table. When did you last SC, them?"
 "They were emptied and cleaned last summer and put away in th middle compartment of that buffet
 "Well, you can see that they'v been filled. The man who broke il here last night knew his way abou the house. eAnd if you still hay any doubts. there is the matter o the candles. When you were i here yesterday, what was the cond tion of the candles in those hold ers?"
 "They were fresh candles, no used at all"
 "Yet when we got here last nigh they were about to expire. Now twelve or fourteen-inch candle wi