The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-07-26
By vARzCK VANARDY Author q
'sThe Two-Faced Man." "Alias the
Night Wind" etc.


open at his touch, of course.
He had known that even before ne
made the effort.
His quick and observing eyes had
noticed the moisture of dew on Rob-
erta's shoes. He knew, IN that in
slant, that it was not Roberta who
was locked inside the bathroom
who had been locked in it-who
might be-who doubtless was-still
there. , r- t--~-n &gr "a
Again he started to speak and
withheld the words he would have ut
tered.
He had seen the amazement in her
eyes when he sprang to the door and
attempted to open it.
His first thought was that the mar
whom she had gone out earlier to
meet was there; his second n was
the same, although he added to it the
belief that Roberta was unaware of
the fact. Being puzzled, and also in
tensely curious, he vas silent.
1t was Roberta who spoke first.
"What are you doing here?" she
demanded.
81 might reply by asking what the
devil you've beenu doing outside of
the house a second time tonight" he
answered.
"Who is locked in the bathroom? %
she asked in utter amazement.
81 thought you were-until this
moment"
Roberta shrugged. She did not be-
lieve him.
"Who is there?" she repeated.
81 don't know, unless it is the
man you expected here tonight" he
answered, leaving his chair and fac
ing her.
"Then why don't you open the dOol
and find out?"
"There r several very good reas
ons for that" he drawleed. "I coulC
not use the forceps because the char
inside withdrew the key. I coult
not pick the lock or force the doc
because l haven't my tools with me
and 1 didn't think it wise to leav,
the room long enough to get them
You fooled me, you see. l reall!
supposed that you were the person il
the bothroom."
Roberta was plainly puzzled
fact which Belknap was not slOy
to see.
"Don't you know who is in there :?
he demanded, bending nearer her.
mo; and l don't believe that any
body is there. 1t is a trick of som
sort that you are attempting, G. E
One of your Machiavellian schemes
doubtless" Her voice and manne
were so sincere that he was suddenl
convinced that she told the truth.
"Was somebody beside ourselves i
this o svhen l came here the frs
time?" he asked sharply.
{ mo. Or, if there was, you shoul
know it. You were here when l re
turned"
t "How long a time had 1 been gon
when you went out again?"
: 81 don't remember. Five-ten min
utes. Perhaps more than that"
"And l was gone no longer tina
: that when 1 returned. Somebody We
here, then. Somebody partly opene
0 the door into the hall to go out;
I saw the door move, but / did not 81
n the person, although / knew that OF
5 was at the door. That person locke
it and. It all resolves itself int
e the fact that we were spied upo
SOMEBODY knew that l was in tn
s room with you tonight, and probab
" overheard our conversation. Do "
insist that you do not know who tn
, person was?"
l., 81 not only do not know, G. B., b
/ l don't believe there was such a pc
'e son. I don't in the least know VIII
n you are up to, but whatever it is
wish you'd unlock that door and ha
le done with it. l am very tired and
II want to undress and go to bed-b
/ I'd like you to unlock that door
II fore you go. Besides, it is very Ia
and if you were found here"
:, "You would be compromised, ell