The diamond drill., 1921-06-18


pessimistic as proceeded, had
reached the ffth floor. when, as
turned ut the front Of the iron stairs.
my glance rested on the letters stem
clled along the frosted glass op-
posite-"Mutual Investment Company.
Casper Wine, Manager l stopped
still. my heart beating wildly. feel
ing that ! had stumbled blindly on
the very thing l had been seeking.
Casper Wine was the name OF the
man who. through accident. had opened
10 me the door leading into the Alya
factory; the man who had left me
alone In the entry while he disappeared
to talk with Alva privately In the
little side-room. Casper Wine For
the first time I really believed the
old hack driver was right--he had
actually picked up just such fare.
Juggling a bag with him. and driven
the fellow To this place at midnight.
I had never connected the crime with
Wine before-yet why not? He was
among those present: he had been
alone with Alva he doubtless knew of
the transferring of the money; and
he answered fully the description Of
the man the cabby had picked up near
the Jersey docks.
stood irresolute. undecided as 20
my next move. ! felt convinced 1 was
at. last on the right trail but how
could I verify my suspicion? There
seemed to be but one sure method.
Whoever had actually committed the
murder and robbery. still clung to the
theory that Ivan Waldron knew him.
and would demand his share as the
price OF silent tongue. Nor would
he. 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. IL Wine
had possession OF the valise he would
certainly be called upon to deliver u
portion Of its contents very shortly.
My best course, then, was to keep an
eye open fof waldron; 4 he came,
there would be no doubt as TO the
exact nature OF HIS errand.
The stairway gave me no advan-
tage; II was open and doubtless fire.
quently used. To be seen lettering
there for any length Of time would at.
tract attention. l ventured 10 try the
private door but as expected, found
1t securely locked. nor did l dare ex-
ert any force, not knowing who might
10 off
no one either leaving or entering
nor did / observe any shadow on the
frosted glass indicative OF movement
within. Banied and uncertain, / had
barely returned 10 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, but 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 10 enter AS the
three vanished, I heard him explain
that this was the only vacant suite on
this floor and then another voice
said, dissatisfied. that IL was altogeth-
or 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
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.
both small. and Uttered with the frag-
ments left by the late occupants.
What struck me forclbly was that
there was no connection between
those rooms and the next suite; they
were separated by a thick wall. I
could hide here securely enough. and.
by slightly lifting the glass. gain good
view of the corridor. but II would be
Impossible 10 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
IL open crack so as to afford me a
fair view. III Waldron appeared 1
would endeavor 10 discover some
means of learning the object OF his
visit. Meanwhile was safe enough.
and able to observe every movement
on the floor.
Suddenly, when I least expected II,
the door OF the Investment Office
opened, and a young woman came out.
She had her hat on. and I took note
OF 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