The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-06-11
By JANE BUNKER

tnreW OF the Chafn-bClt. dashed Tor
the dumb waiter and began pulling it
up. hand over fist, as fast as l could
go.
"MOn Dieu! What shall dot"
"Skip! Get down into your own fiat
and hide. That man will he 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
wis0ut to find me?-and he brings re
police?"
"Of course he will-just to justify
himself to me If 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 a
heap again.
mo. you're not. Where's your hat?
Get it,"
He brought his hat from the dining
room. tanning it on his head and
whispering, as he looked at the dumb
waiter: "How shall l make my escape
wis zis? have never in my life"
Get on" l commanded. "Don't stop
to talk about it-unless you wish to
be found here and arrested. You
haven't minute to lose."
/
Ddeu-how can I make my descent"
ITS 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 parting warning, and
he began his descent.
At that moment I caught the sound
of the elevator coming up-it might or
might not be the detective. but I took
no risks. Leaving the dumb waiter
door just as the Unknown had left 1t
l slipped softly to the kitchen door,
closed and locked it and put up the
chatn.bO!t 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.
let 1t ring and ring again, and
heard a voice, "Yes-she's there"
The fourth ring was followed by the
pounding of heavy hand.
| l had been listening to the dumb
waiter and it had now stopped.
thought it safe to make move on my
side. so walked noisily along the hall
and called through the door, "Whos
there?"
"Police officer. Open the door,
please"
"What precinct?"
There was grunt before he an
swered. "Thirty-six."
"Oh. all right" l 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 insigniti-
cant. my detective.
"Oh. it's you'll" exclaimed affably,
addressing the officer and taking no
notice of the detective.
| yen Opcu TIE uOVE- he SUI"
gested very politely.
with pleasure" and I took off the
chain.bolt and threw the door wide
open.
"Step in" said I. snow. officer.
what is the trouble?"
swell. you see. this gentleman here
believes you're hiding 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 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 it
open the first thing that caught his eye
was the dumb.waiter door, gaping
vide the way he'd left it, and as he
stepped across the threshold shot off
ut him. Il hid your man in the refrig-
erator-be sure to look there"
And he pulled open the refrigerator
doors!
l gave the officer a look. This was
too much for the Irish in him. and he |
threw back his head with guf-
faw. l checked him with another look
that gave him to understand l 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 " the slip" jihed
the big officer-"if he was here at ALL"
The tone Of his last words showed
considerable doubt.