The Ordway new era., 1920-06-04

threw OF the chain-bclt, dashed for
the dumb walter and began pulling 1t
up, hand over fist, Us fast as l could
go.
"Mon Dieu! What shall I do7"
"Skip! Get down into your own fiat
and hide. That man will be back here
with a police officer In five minutes"
The top Of the dumb waiter had
come up level with the sill. but at my
words monsIeur's nerve seemed to for
sake him entirely.
"He will be back-after he is gone
| wisout to find mef-and he brings re
police?"
"Of course he will-just to justify
himself to me II for nothing else-and
to satisfy himself that you're not here
in hiding. You heard him say he'd
traced you here"
"Zen am lost-and my little Claire
Is lost"
He seemed about to sink down in
heap again.
"No. you're not. Where's your hat7
Get it."
He brought his hat from the dining
room, jamming 1t on his head and
whispering. as he looked at the dumb
waiter: "How shall I make my ecsape
wis zisf have never In my life"
"Get on" commanded. "Don't stop
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 1 make my descent"
| .yts
self and Claire" l 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 1t and put up the
chain-bolt again. To the casual eye
the kitchen was as 1t had been five
minutes before. untouched. unopened.
AS stepped into the dining room
the front bell rang long and loud.
| l let 1t ring and ring again. and
heard voice. "Yes-she's there"
The fourth ring was followed by the
pounding of a heavy hand.
1 had been listening to the dumb
waiter and 1t had now stopped. I
thought 1t safe to make q move on my
side. so walked noisily along the hall
and called through the door. who's
thereT
"Police officer. Open the door.
please"
"What precinctf"
There was a grunt before he an
swered. "Thirty-six."
'Oh. all rightr" I opened the door
on the chain-bolt.
There stood broad-shouldered "one
of the finest" and OF to one side Of
him. looking very pale and insignifi-
cant, my detective.
"Oh. It's your l exclaimed affably.
addressing the officer and taking no
notice Of the detective.
"If yen open the door" he sug-
gested very politely.
with pleasure" and took OF the
chain-bolt and threw the door wide
open.
| otSP liz coio - &NoWs OAACCAs
what is the troubleT
"Well. you see, this gentleman here
believes you're hiding a party he's
got a warrant fer
Help yourselves" said I curtly.
moving aside to let them pass.
The Unknown darted along the din
ing room; the officer followed; i
brought up the rear. A glance showed
that both the dining room and my
study opening into 1t were empty.
He went back to the bedroom-cast-
ing a glance at the kitchen door as he
passed. which was chain-bolted as I'd
told him 1t 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-waiter door. gaping
wide the way he'd left It, and rs he
stepped across the threshold shot OF
al him. II hid your man in the refrig-
erator-be sure to look there"
And he pulled open the refrigerator
doorsi
gave the officer a look. This was
too much for the Irish in him, and he
threw back his head with a guf-
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.
I'D have taken my oath that man
was here fifteen minutes ago., he ex-
tenuated.
''Then he's give y the Slip" jibed
the big ofiicer-"if he was here at ALL"
The tone Of his last words showed