The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-09-22
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

AC last On the right trail but how
could / verify my suspicion? There |
seemed to be but one sure method. |
Whoever had actually committed the |
murder and robbery, 1 still chung to the |
theory that Ivan Waldron knew him, |
and would demand his share as the |
price of a silent tongue. Nor 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. If Wine
certainly be called upon to deliver
portion Of its contents very shortly.
My best course, then, was to keep an
eye open for WaldrOn; if he came,
there would be no doubt as to the
exact nature of his errand.
The stairway gave me no advan-
tage; it 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
it securely locked, nor did | dare ex-
ert any force, not knowing who might
be inside. The Office remained quiet,
no one either leaving or entering,
nor did / observe any shadow On the
frosted glass Indicative 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 CORR Tor. Two of
them attracted no attention, but the
third was in his Shirt-sleeves and wore
q cap with some insignia upon 1t.
| 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. I feared a springlock,
hut was pleasantly disappointed, the
door opening instantly, permitting me
to sliD 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. l
cOuld hide here securely enough. anu
by slightly lifting the glass, gain good
view of the corridor, but 1t would De
imDOssible to Overhear anything tax
ing place in Wines office. At that
tho nOsition was better for my pur-
pose than the open stairway, and l
unfastened the window sash, propplng
1t open a crack so as TO aHoru NE
foir view. If WaldrOn appeared l
would endeavor to discover some
means of learning the object OF ms
visit. Meanwhile l was safe enough
and able to observe every movement
on the floor.
Suddenly, when least expected IT.
the door of the investment oIllce
. opened, and a young woman came Out
.. She had her hat on, and l TOOK hole
OF a pencil stuck into her ha1r' ano
felt no doubt she was Wines stenog
rainier. who had finished her days
work and was departing for nome
Then the man was probably still there
! alone The girl disappeared dovr
tho elevator, and could scarcely have
reached the lower floor, when cage
: travelling in the opposite dlrectlol
!. stopped and discharged passenger
: IT was a woman who stepped OUT
qJancing quickly about as though uh
certain where to go, and l recognized
Marie GeSSler.
She started down the corridor, look
ing for the numbers on the ooors' al'
then. discovering herself wrong &c
traced her steps and appfoache'
wines door. Even then she ap
ooared to doubt her next move giahC
inc around as though anxious 10 re
main unobserved before ventura
farther. Then, opening the 400
ouicklv. she disappeared within. II
that moment, before the door ciosoO
caught the sound OF a man VIZ
startled, uttering single SURPRISE
exclamation. ., on ,
"vou here! What does this mean
Then q low spoken answer "a
words inaudible, and ended by ciic
of the latch. ~ ,,ro
That closed door seemed to urs
me to learn what was transpirfng o.
uond. could not fight back tn
tonon+otiop. But would it open? ma
- haor loft unlocked? The only wa
a. which | could ascertain was 10 u!
- MAS no one to witness my
tempt, and. even if some office a,.s,, doc loo
tndI,eniy opened, I could quickly nm
9ov1oooime,lt in the nearby sta1r"a:
crept out through a narrow cra rae
and annroached on tiptoe the entrah'
HNN ofinn No sound reacne