The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-06-25
Chapter 3S ANGER

A \ lie."
 These must. tell you, I knew nothing about it. Besides, I was at the Austerlitz last night. You know that" s
 Sure, I know 1t. You've got an ironclad alibi. Quite true. but there was more than one lii ehis plot.
 "When got to the Austerlitz, why were you so nervous, Andrews? 1 hadn't yet told my news. but you were already upset. jumpy. Why were you so agitated when insisted on rousing your master2 Why all this, if you knew nothing about what had happened?"
 Once again the man exhibited all the signs of an intense inward strug- gle to repress an emotional strain. By sheer force of will Andrews pulled himself together. q h. strict orders not to disturb MT. Dairesne on any account" He fallered on. You soc, sir, knew he was intoxi- cated and didn't want stranger to see him in that condition" "You're lying, Andrews. There's something else. MT. Dufresne was more than half drunk when I left him the first time."
 Sergeant Harper spoke out of the certitude of his conviction. The but ler's words were plausible, yes. but there was that indeflnable some thing in his. tone that convinced the detective that Andrews was uneasy at mention of the Austerlitz surprise visit.
 "FMthermore," Harper continued, "some one spied on us while we were searching tt ? cellar this morn ing. The result was the hiding of the gun that had been in MT. Du- fresne's room. Those are overt acts and some one Is going to answer for them"
 Andrews eyes glinted as he squared his shoulders and faced the detective squarely. "If you think am guilty, I'd prefer that you repeat those charges before MT. Dufresne," he challenged.
 That's not a bad idea" Harper snapped, and strode over to the bell. Dufresne made a prompt appear ance.
 The detective repeated the ac- count of his discovery and placed both letter and goblet before the dapper man, silent and attentive un. til Harper had finished.
 Then Dufresne pushed the exhib- it's aside without a glance. I'm not surprised that you've come to some such idiotic conclusion" he said, "There is no question as to Andrews loyalty. I would as soon accuse my self" He put his hand on the old mans shoulder with a gesture of af- feotion.
 Harper's anger mounted, too. "This mutual loyalty is very touch ing but 1t still doesn't explain how Andrews thumb print came to be on this letter. That certainly calls for an explanation" !
 Dufresne turned to his servant. Have we any stationery like that in the house?"
 "No, sir. We've never used tinted papers of any kind"
 ITS strange that every letter is a
 l different color," Dufresne com. mented thoughtfully. Stationery is not sold that way. It suggests sam. pie specimens"
 Andrews started up. q remember now" he cried excitedly. these are sample sheets. They were sent here by some printing concern soliciting business. Mrs. Whitmore turned them over to me long time ago and l stuck them away fin desk. Last autumn I cleared out the desk and threw them into the waste-basket That's how my finger mark got on the sheet"
 There you are. Harper" Du fresne announced triumphantly.
 This time Harper believed the but ler's explanation. for his tone had the spontaneity of simple truth.
 ..'lf we accept Andrews explana tion." he said. then any one could have taken them from the cellar But it establishes strong point, MT Dufresne-those letters originated in this house! And now. if you'll ex cuse me. have other matters to gt over with Andrews"
 Dufresne accepted the invitation to withdraw but went away with slow step and puckered trown be tween his brows. as if absorbed bl some weighty problem. When he nae gone and the door was closed agaln "I have test to propose. Andrews.