The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-05

matter. but"
Parker suddenly held UP hand OF
warning
Just a moment. sir"
What is it?'
Il thought-yes. I knew IL! Some
ones down stairs. sir"
''Eh?' Grafton leaped to his feet.
What makes you think SOP
I'm sure I heard steps and-yes,
there's a door closing. He's walking
down the hall somewhere below"
Then let us"
You staye here. sir. and keep watch.
IN get him"
The man dashed out into the CORR
dor and toward the elevator Grafton,
half inclined 10 follow, stared after
him from the doorway, but Parker
motioned him back.
I'm call II I need help. sirr' he said
softly.
The car dropped out OF sight and
Grafton was alone with his trouble
and his problem.
vaguely. he wondered whom Parker
would encounter below. or if the odd
Individual who entered office buildings
after l O'Clock ia the morning would
nc encountered at all
Whoever il might be. there seemed
good possibility that he could be
connected in some way with the rob
berry; At all events. did Parker bring
him back, they would search him
from top 10 toe. be the consequences
what they might.
Cup Against It."
The elevator cables. as he saw.
ceased to move. He Judeei that tie
Waterman might have reached the
fifth. or perhaps the fourth, floor. He
waited and strained HIS ears. and
presently the sound of voices reached
him. 1t was a peaceful meeting down
there. from oil indications; there was
no noise Of argument or strife.
Some Of the tenants. then; Grafton
sighed heavily at the blasting OF even
the faint hope he had cherished.
Doubtless the individual would prove
to be some one utterly beyond de-
scription.
He heard their footsteps now. and
little later the slam OF an elevator
gate. He watched as the cables took
up their smooth motion.
Then the car appeared and stopped,
ana Parker stepped out with n broad.
muscular man Of perhaps fifty.
Grafton's eyes frightened. OF all the
people IN the world. the one he had
not thought Of, and the very one most
likely TO be Of use, had appeared be-
fore him. Il was Burleigh. the retired
police detective Who operate the pri-
vate detective agency on the NTH
floor.
The pair were almost at his door,
and he stepped forward eagerly and
with outstretchCd hand.
Here at least was a man, honest,
fair. and square in every particular
and famous for his astuteness in just
such emergencies as the present
-'Good-evening, Mr.. Burleish," he
said and his voice held much of the
relief with which we greet the belated
physician.
Good evening
Has Parker told your
Il didn't mention IL, sir"
Grafton nodded approvingly.
There has been a robbery here,
Burleigh-some papers of mine which
mean more than l can tell you at the
moment. one thing 1 viii say: no man
ever had greater need Of a thing than
I have need to get those documents
back into my possession before noon
of the 21st."
Very we'll" Burleigh's own calm
had It's excellent effect upon The dis
traught man. He mastered an impulse
90 cling TO the detective, and led the
way INTO his office.
They must have been left on that
desk when / went away early this
ev ening"
BY whom?"
BY myself. confessed Grafton.
Now they have vanished entirely
that's the situation"
And a few other things happened
in between, 1 suppose?' smiled Bur
leigh.
Grafton told the whole story as
briefly as possible, Parker sitting in
the larger office. Burleigh, tired from
a hard days work which had ended
only with his early morning return to
his office. smoked and listened in sill
cnce. putting question now and then,
bat in the main allowing Grafton his
own method OF narration.
when the last Of the meaeer details
had been told, BurIeigh leaned back,
stretched his legs, and stared at the
ceiling.
We know that your papers were
there" he SAID thoughtfully. I'VE
know chat they're not there now: we
know also that they must be back
before noon OF the day after tomor-
row.
Grafton nodded.
That's all rather obvious" he OBJ
served dTyly.
But We know another thing" said
Burleigh, smiling slightly, "and that
is. that they were taken By q human
being. presumably a man, between the
hours Of ana /
True
Burleigh's lounge changed to a pos
tl.re Of more animation. he sat up
and IOked at Grafton.
And from long experience. he
aCded, Il know something more; no
man in such a ease or perhaps in any