The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-04-15
By JANE BUNKER

| to talk about it-unless you wish to
be found here and arrested. You
haven't minute to lose."
He hesitated, murmuring, Mon
Dieu--how can / make my descent
tits your only chance to save your
self and Claire" urged. LET your
self down to your fiat and pry open
the door. Hold her steady--go slow
count the doors and don't miss yours, :
whispered as a parting warning, and
he began his descent.
At that moment / caught the sound
of the elevator coming up-it might or
might not be the detective, but | took
no risks. Leaving the dumb waiter
door just as the Unknown had left 1t
slipped softly to the kitchen door,
closed and locked it and put up the
chain-bolt again. To the casual eye
| the kitchen was as it had been five
minutes before, untouched. unopened.
| AS l stepped into the dining room
the front bell rang long and loud.
I let 1t ring and ring again, and
heard voice, "Yes-she's there"
The fourth ring was followed by the
pounding of heavy hand.
1 had been listening to the dumb
waiter and it had now stopped.
thought it safe to make move on my
side, so I walked noisily along the hall
and called through the door, who's
| there?"
"Police officer. Open the door,
please"
'What precinct?"
There was a grunt before he an
swered, "Thirty-six."
"Oh, all right" opened the door
on the chain-bolt.
There stood broad-shouldered zone
of the finest" and off to one side OF
him, looking very pale and insignif-
cant, my detective.
"Oh, it's you!" exclaimed affably,
| addressing the officer and taking no
notice of the detective.
"If yell open the door" he sug-
gested very politely.
with pleasure" and I took off the
chain-bolt and threw the door wide
open.
"Step In" said 1. "Now, officer,
what is the trouble?"
"Well. you see, this gentleman here
believes you're hiding q party he's
got warrant fer"
Help yourselves" said I CURLY
moving aside to let them pass.
The Unknown darted along the din
| ing room; the officer followed;
brought up the rear. A glance showed
that both the dining room and my
study opening into it were empty.
He went back to the bedroom-cast
ing a glance at the kitchen door as ne
passed, which was chaiIl-bolted as I'd
| told him it was-and looked under
| the bed. After that he ,peered into the
bathroom and returned for final sur.
vey of the double room before unlock
| ing the kitchen door. AS he threw 1t
open the FIRST thing that caught his eye
was the dumb-wsiter door, gaping
wide the way he'd left it, and as he
stepped across the threshold ] shot of
| at him, ST hid your man in the refrig-
erator-be sure to look there
And he pulled open the refrigerator
doors!
I gave the officer look. This was
too much for the Irish in him, and he
threw back his head with gut.
faw. checked him with another look
that gave him to understand / thought
there was something queer about my
other visitor, who, very red now
slammed the doors and faced us.
"Td have taken my oath that man
was here fifteen minutes ago" he ex,
tenuated.
'Then he's give y the Slip" jibed
the big officer-"if he was here at ALL
The tone of his last words showed
considerable doubt.
sit would appear so," replied the
other vaguely, and they followed me
! to my study, the officer, whose sym
pathies were all with me by this time
telling me heartily, II guess that'll be
all and we'll wish you good morning.
and motioned to the Unknown te
leave. :
I smiled tried to make it very
sarcastic smile-and told the On
known, 81 hope this won't interfere
with your keeping your appointment
here tomorrow"
Certainly not. With your kind per
mission I shall see you at nine o'clocl
tomorrow"
He bowed himself out. He seemed
in hurry, and fancied he was anx
1 ious to communicate with his guard
and / shut the door on him, little sup
/ posing he'd really keep his appoint
ment, or that when he did our posi-
! lions would be reversed and | shonlt
be asking fayors of himl