The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-10-21
CHAPTER XIII-continued.

could / verify my suspicion? There
seemed TO be but one sure method
Whoever had actually committed the
murder and robbery, I still chung TO the
theory that Ivan WaldrOn knew him.
and would demand his share as the
price OF a silent tongue. Nor would
ne, under present circumstances, be
content to wait very long for such
a division. He needed the money
more than ever to escape from the
observation of the police. If Wine
had possession Of the valise he would
certainly be called upon to deliver a
portion Of its contents very shortly.
Ny best course, then, was TO keep an
eye open for Waldron; if he came,
there would be no doubt as 70 the
exact nature of his errand.
The stairway gave me no advan-
tage; IL was open and doubtless fire.
quently used. To be seen lettering
there for any length of time would at
tract attention. / ventured to try the
private door, but, as expected. found
1t securely locked. nor did l dare ex-
eTt any force. not knowing who might
be inside. The Office remained quiet,
no one e.>aer leaving or entering,
nor did I OBJ wye any shadow on the
frosted glass 9dlcative Of movement
within. Baffied and uncertain, l had
barely returned to my point Of con-
cealment, when an elevator stopped
at this floor level, and three men
stepped out into the corridor. Two of
them attracted no attention, hut the
third was in his shirt-sleeves and wore
a cap with some insignia upon it,
He 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, l 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 carelessly and pressed the ele-
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 [ feared a springlock,
but was pleasantly disappointed, the
to slip inside. There were two rooms,
both small, and Uttered with the frag-
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 thick wall I
could hide here securely enough, and /
by slightly lifting the glass; gain good
view of the corridor, but it would be
impossible TO Overhear anything tax
ing place in Wines office. At that |
the position was better for my pur-
pose than the open stairway, and l
unfastened the window sash, propping |
IT open a crack so as TO afford me n |
fair view. If Waldron appeared I |
would endeavOr 10 discover some /
means of learning the object Of his /
visit Meanwhile l was safe enough, 7
and able TO observe every movement I
on the floor
Suddenly, when / least expected 1t,
the door of the Investment Office /.
opened. and Il young woman came out.
She had her hat on, and | took note
of a 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
and discharged a passenger
1t was a woman who stepped out,
glancing quickly about as though I'M
certain where to go, and 1 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 then she APP
peared to doubt her next move. gIanc-
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 a mans voice,
startled, uttering a single surprised
exclamation.
You herei What does this mean?' /
Then a low spoken answer. the
words inaudible. and ended by a click
IF the latch.
That closed door seemed TO urge
ne to learn what was transpiring be-
You'd 1 could not fight back the
But would it open? had
/ been left unlocked? The only way
IN which l could ascertain was to try. {
There was no one TO witness my at {
tempt. and, even If some office door
opened. l could quickly find {
in the nearby stairway. {
crept out through narrow crack.
and approached on tiptoe the entrance
o Wines office. No sound reached {
ne from within. and my fingers ST. J
emily pressed the knob, which
urned without resistance-the latch T
vas of. A half inch at a time / a
opened the door. listening for any
loise behind. my eyes peering through
he narrow crack at what was re- \
-ealed within. They perceived little, k
merely a small, unoccupied room, evil
Iently an outer office. containing
heap desk, two chairs and a type p
writing stand, the machine covered. v
Two maps hung upon the walls: IN
ne corner was a glass water-holder, n
nd in the other a diminutive closet. II