The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-06-12

affairs had taken.
 Young Donaghy. spick and span in his tailored uniform, stood at one of the windows, apart from the oth- CTS. Busy with his thoughts, he looked out steadily and unseeingly, as if absorbed by mental puzzle.
 Richard Croyden. pensive and sub dued. idly ran his sensitive fingers up and down the keyboard of the pi- ano, turned sideways across a cor ner of the room He fingered melan- choly little snatches of melody. soft ly, dreamily, his thoughts busy else where. The first muted chords had drawn glances of wonder and dis approval at thA intruding of the sound of music at such time. By the side of the piano, seated in an easy chai,, was Aline Croyden, smoking a cigarette and frowning at the swinging toe of her slipper. THE minutes dragged by inter-
 l minably to make quarter-hour. the quarter became a half, the half heightened to full hour, and the relentless cycle started on it's sec ond lap.
 Conversation succumbed to the strain and became forced and desul- tory as impatience gnawed at every one. Even Dufresne's indignation was reduced to intermittent flashes.
 One hour and half Harper and his men expended on the search and when he returned to the drawing room no one could tell from his ex- pression wether or not they had been successful. But one glance at Mrs. Whitmore's disdainful air Of triumph told them that the much sought weapon had not yielded the secret of it's hiding-place
 Harper's bitter disappointment was betrayed only by his grim tone as he stood before Pierre Dufresne. q have not found the gun but 1 am still convinced that it is concealed here in the house. Since no one has left, it can hardly be otherwise"
 Dufresne made gesture of dis- missal to the servants. who prompt ly filed out, that they might talk over this astounding affair more un- reservedly in their own quarters. Aline Croyden and her husband left quietly, tactfully leaving the field clear for the discussion that must follow.
 q hope you did not overlook Mrs. Dufresne's room, Harper?" Dufresne asked insolently.
 "No. indeed, looked there very thoroughly" the detective an- swered.
 And what absurdity do you pur- pose next? Please don't worry about any inconvenience to my family or myself. I am merely the owner of this property" Dufresne was being purposely insulting.
 1"I have given orders that no one Is to leave this house without being searched. We do not intend to have this revolver carried away. Later we may search for it again, but for the present shall work along other lines that may bring the same re suit
 "Going out to study the snow again. suppose? Or possibly to look for more places where finger prints should be, but are not Bah. you have no case, Harper, and you know it."
 Dufresne's tones were obviously intended to be batting, and this thought acted as counter-irritant to the detectives natural chagrin. Do you think so?" was his cool re- ply. We've just about finished with our study of the material facts. Now we take up the characters and per sonalities involved. I'll endeavor to follow the good advice you gave me at our first meeting, MT. Dufresne, and take nothing for granted"
 Eyes flashing, lips curling angrily, Pierre Dufresne turned his back on the detective and walked out of the room. Captain Macklin took I'D his hat and overcoat. "Stay on the job, Harper. but you'd better work fast. Dufresne is bad man to cross and he carries plenty of weight in cer- tain quarters. He'll have your scalp if he can"
 "Ilf risk that, Captain. l think he's so damned sure that can't make a case out of it that he'll let me carry on, just to show ma up."
 After Captain Macklin had gone, Harper called to Lafferty. and they proceeded to search the room in which the Dufresne household had waited. Lafferty asked. Do you think any of that crowd would have nerve enough to keep that gun hid. den on themselves? Perhaps we should have made a personal search"
 Harper shook his head. "The gun would be too bulky and the risk foolish. No, the thing was hidden, and hidden well. We'll have to keep thinking about it."
 (Copyri0ht. I934. by Walter c. Brorn)
 Tomorrow, the detectives find [
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