The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER xHl-Continued.

could l verify my suspicion? There
seemed to be but one sure method.
Whoever had actually committed the
murder and robbery. l still clung to the
theory that Ivan Waldron knew him.
and would demand his share as the
price OF a silent tongue. MOI would
he. under present circumstances, be
content to wait very long for such
q division. He needed the money
more than ever to escape from the
observation OF the police. II Wine
had possession of the valise he would
certainly lie called upon to deliver q
portion Of its contents very shortly.
My best course, then, was to keep an
eye open for Waldron; If he came,
there would he no doubt as to the
exact nature OF his errand.
The stairway gave me no advan-
tage; 1t was open and doubtless fire.
Q~uently used. To be seen lettering
there for any length of time would at
tract attention. l ventured to try the
private door. tut. as expected, found
1t securely locked, nor did l dare ex-
ert any force, not knowing who might
be inside. The Office remained quiet,
no one either leaving or entering,
nor did l observe any shadow on the
frosted glass indicative Of movement
within. Baf1led and uncertain, l had
barely returned to my point of con-
cealment, when an elevator stopped
ut this floor level, and three men
stepped GU into the corr. Tor. Two of
them attracted no attention, but the
third was in his shirt-sleeves and wore
q cap with some insignia upon it.
Hs advanced briskly, and flung open
the door leading into what had once
been the Railway Exchange" and
motioned the others to enter. As the
three vanished, ! heard him explain
that this was the only vacant suite on
this floor. and then another voice
said, dissatisfied, that it was altogeth-
er too small for their purpose. When
they came out the agent closed the
door c~arelessly and pressed the e|e-
vator button. saying he would show
them something on the second floor
above.
Even as they shot up out OF sight
I was across the corridor with hand
on the knob. I feared a springlock.
but was pleasantly disappointed, the
door opening instantly, permitting me
to slip inside. There were two rooms,
roth small, and Uttered with the flag-
Ments left by the late occupants.
What struck me fOrcibly was that
there was no connection between
those rooms and the next suite; they
were separated by a thick wall. l
could hide here securely enough. and,
by slightly lifting the glass. gain good
view OF the corridor, but 1t would be
impossible to 0verhear anything TAX
ing place In Wines Office. At that,
the position was better for my pur-
pose than tile open stairway, and l
unfastened the window sash, prOpping
It open a crack so as to afford me q
fair view. II Waldron appeared l
would endeavOr to discover some
means Of learning the object Of his
visit. Meanwhile I was safe enough,
and able to observe every movement
on the floor.
Suddenly, when l least expected 1t,
the door OF the Investment office
opened, and 3 young came put.
She had her hat On, and l took note
Of q pencil stuck into her hair, and
felt no doubt she was Wines stenog-
rapher, who had finished her days
work and was departing for home.
Then the man was probably still there
alone. The girl disappeared down
the elevator, and could scarcely have
reached the lower floor. when a cage
travelling in the opposite direction
stopped and discharged a passenger.
1t was a woman who stepped out.
glancing quickly about as though un-
certain where to 90, and l recognized
Marie Gessler.
She started down the corridor, look
Ing for the numbers on the doors, and
then, discovering herself wrong, re-
traced her steps and approached
Wines door. Even Their she ap-
peared to doubt her next move, glanc-
Ing around as though anxious to re-
main unobserved before venturing
farther. Then, opening the door
quickly. she disappeared within. In
that moment, before the door closed,
l caught the sound of q mans voice.
STARTLED. uttering q single surprised
ex clamatiOn.
You here! What does this NEAR :"
Then q low spoken answer, the
words i~naudible, and ended by q click
Of the latch.
That closed door seemed to urge
me 10 learn what al transporting be-
You'd l could not fight back the
temptation. But would it open7 had
It been left unlocked? The only way
in which l could ascertain was to try.
There was no one to witness my at
tempt, and. ven II some Office door
suddenly opened, l could quickly find
~concealment In the nearby stairway.
crept out through q narrow crack.
and approached on tiptOe the entrance