The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-07-18
Chapter 52 TABLES TURNED

Il rest me?" Mrs. Croyden gasped.
 "Oh, yes. That much is necessary. in any case. But before take you away am going to inform your hus- band of the facts"
 Don't do that! Please, can't face any one now. Take me away without letting any one know. have confesse d. What more do you want?"
 T want to know who was in this room with you when you marked that table with your ring!" Harper retorted.
 Mrs. Croyden reached out hand blindly and collapsed into chair.
 Detective Lafferty arrived post. haste, stopping in surprise at sight of Mrs. Croyden's grief-stricken face and Harper's stern features. The Sergeant of Detectives wasted no time in explanation. q have just placed Mrs. Croyden under arrest" he said. You will take charge of her until l come back"
 Andrews was lingering in the depths of the hall. prey to that troubled vision of Aline Croyden. harassed and stricken Harper strode up to the butler. Have you seen MT. Croyden?" he inquired.
 "Mr. Croyden has gone across to his own house." Andrews answered.
 "How long ago?
 About half an hour. sir"
 Harper snatched up his hat and overcoat. Putting them on as he went. he bolted through the back door. passed the garage. vaulted over the three-foot stone wall and cut across to the back of the plan. ist's house. The doors of the garage were open. but both cars were there Richards large gray limousine and his wife's small blue roadster
 He went around to the front and rang the bell. A hou5emaid in white cap and apron opened the door. The sound of a piano pene. trated the quiet of the house and the soft cascade of harmony in- creased the detective's distaste and reluctance to perform the duty that lay before him.
 The maid re-appeared in the hall, beckoning him toward the music. room. He entered. just as Richard Croyden rose from the piano. What brings you over here, Sergeant" the latter asked. His tone sounded perturbed and his hands nervously grasped the lapels of his house jacket.
 T have very gray ye news for you. MT. Croyden. Your wife has just con. fessed to having committed mur- der She has given me very cir. cum mstantial account of the methods she employed, as well as her mo tives. She has put into my posses. sion all the facts except the real identity of the man. HID. This she refuses to divulge. She has surren dered and intends to plead guilty. Before taking her away. thought il only fair that you should be noti. fed" He paused. then repeated with peculiar emphasis. You under stand. MT. Croyden. she gave me very circumstantial account"
 Richard Croyden cooked his head a trifle at the significant tone of the detectives repeated statement. For a moment vital with unspoken thought they eyed each other grave ly. then Croyden drew deep breath. squared his shoulders. and turned. "I CAN'T let her do it!" The words ! rushed out in one breath. What. ever story she told you. Harper. l see that you have found out the truth. l did the killing and I'll face the consequences. can't hide be hind my wife's confession"
 Harper said. "She intends to take her oath in Court"
 Richard Croyden put his hand on the detect've's shoulder. Thanks. Harper. You are blessed with under standing. but we can't let her go through with it. There are some things in life not worth buying"
 He smiled wearily. "I'll go with you quietly: isn't that the correct phrase? Nothing that happens now can be worse than the hell I've been through already"
 "Your wife's story. then, is true in detail. except that you, and not she. carried it out?"
 "I have no doubt 1t was, Harper. She would have no incentive to mis- lead you. except by substituting her name for mine. We can get that all cleared up later. I shall offer no de- fense. Both of us talked this thing over and over last night. but I had no idea she had any such plan in her head.
 "She felt she was solely to blame. You see. our marriage went on the rocks long ago. began to get wind of this last tangle and when 1t began to get desnerata I managed fo rpf