The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-01-02
The Step on the Stairs
BY Isabel 0strander
BY Isabel 0strander

lapscd into tho neares, chair, burylng
his face In hts hands,
Boyle WAS Instantly all business.
After a quick examination OF the
body he turned 60 Barry.
would YOU mind telling me. Ser.
goantg' he began. but tho other In.
tcrrupted him.
"Not In tho least. aitho we know
very little. was here unoffieially,
Waiting this old friend OF minc. Mr..
Somyonov. who lives on tho fifth
floor~-two above thls---when wo
heard the shot and rushed down 10
Investigate, There seems TO DO no
ono In the apartment directly above
this ono. and took the responsible.
ity Of breaking in tho door here be.
cause we could gct no reply TO re.
pcated knocking and tho light from
the studio there strcamcd out under
the sill into the outer hall. You can
SEQ how brilliant Il Is: & must be
some special light for artists TO paint
by az night
IN have TO report this at once
90 tho station" Boyle. who had
been listening at,entiveiy. nodded
and turned TO the professor. "Hnvo
YOU anything, sir. 20 add 10 what
Sergeant Barry has told me7"
Professor senyonov pondercd FOR
moment, and then said slowiys
only that whom wo heard the
sound 81 the shot and opened my
door fancled that heard footsteps
on the stairs below"
barry. whose eyes had turned to
that collapsed figure ia the chair.
thought that he saw shudder sweep
over Il as tho an unseen hand had
shaken the inert form. but he said
nothing as tho policeman paused AZ
the screened telephone on the table
70 inquire:
! rConld yUu say. sir. whether those
( footsteps were going up or DOWN"
''Not definitely" the professor hes.
i,ated. zone would suppose natural.
I IS tina; they wero descending 10 es-
cape hy way OF the street and yet Il
seemed 10 me that they wern com.
ing up. altho we met no oneF'
He paused. Framed i'm tho hall
doorway there had appeared tall.
middle.agcd man clad In q tattcrcd
dressing gown. with lean. smooth.
shaver. irasclhie face upon which as.
tou.shmcnt struggled with resent.
ment.
.sxx.tstss 49,, ,..tr. -. 49,. cs,t
eergT he demanded. I'm Griswold.
on the floor above. who's been
pounding on my door III 10 wake
tho deadg@
There been murder going on. STR
Officer Boyle retorted grimiy. SO
.t was pounding you heardg9
THAT was !. Professor semyouoy
: remarked with dignity Il stopped
] on the way down at tho persona
door but received no response
And your names Griswoldg' ths
! policeman prevented an evidently
! heated rololnder by his sharp ques
J ton.
Henry Griswold. and know moth
ms whatever about any murder
declared the newcomer. Il do no
, care 20 10 embrollcd in any SUCH
You're here. and youu stay. sir
t.il We hear from headquarters.
Boyle replied significantly. "ss
you're on the fourth floor and thh
gentleman here on tho fifth. III
Indicated the professor with niarke,
eourfszy in difference 20 the ser
! reani. and then turned to the youns
, man IN the chair. You have IN
. apartment on the second floor. sir
, Just over the shop1''
The young man nodded withou
, fiftirg his head and replied with mut
fled tones
! yes Ny name Il Gordon Lndd
/ IL heard you making that racket
Z you know. ana went down 70 the On
trance and let you In
! And that's ali shRt lives In thl
. liouseg' Boyle looked from onc q
? another or them bet his gaze flnnlI,
. fastened upon the professor and th
1 latter replied:
!. ~ lady lives on the top floor. N