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

THAT Ii tho polntg' ho exclaimed.
Il saw that YOU were surprised when
YOU cnmc, but my wants arc simple
and here, You see, | am just queer
old foreigner named somyonov. who
minds HIS business and goes his way
In peace; l am not Professor Semy.
onov. tho chemist. to whose lahorn
tories all tho world comes. No one
knows OF my abode except tho few
Hike Yourself to whom l have given
my address and l am undisturbcd
Hut now you must tell mo about your
case. Is II an affair OF poisonlngf"
Before Sergeant Barry could reply
another flash OF lightning as keen az
a knife thrust swept beneath the edge
OF tho window shades and for an In.
slant dulled the electric lights into an
angry orange glow.
Professor semyonov started, ,hcn
shrugged.
That was nearer. CHI Il am as
bad perhaps as n hystorlcnl house.
maid but does IL not seem as tho the
very atmosphere waited for the break.
Ing OF the Storm
II Is like tho report OF gunsr' Tho
professor pulled hlS worn. gorgeous.
lShued dressing gown more closely
about him as he sank once moro into
his chair. Il have heard thom In my
own country many years before tho
late war and tho memory OF them IL
with mo always. But let us forget
the storm II We can. The case you
mentioned: Is Il MURDER"
frankly. don't know" Barry
responded, III is similar 20 that
Tudor affair a, Sandy Cove last sum.
mer-"
a sudden, sharp detonatlon burst
erackling upon their ears and both
men leaped TO their feet and stood for
the fraction OF second staring at
each other. Tho professors nervous.
ness had fallen from him and he
spoke with the ealmness OF fatalism:
There was no lightning. That was
not thunder. but shot, Conner
The realization OF the truth had
pierced tho detectives consciousness
even before his host voiced II and he
sprpnK for the door. As he flung n
open. with the rotund figure in the
tattercd dressing gown close at his
heels. he heard Enthusiastically the
sound Of hurrying footsteps below
aud plunged for tho head OF the
stairs.
Tho narrow hail was but dimly
lighted and in tho unnatural silence
which followed tho echo OF tho shot.
THEIR own feet as they clattored down
tho mattlng.covcred stairs drowned
out the lesser sound which had come
up 10 them.
The hallway directly below was de.
serted and the door leading into the
apartment was closed and blank.
Professor Semyonov paused TO ham.
mer upon II. but Barry FASTENED on
downward. his eyes striving 10 pierce
tho gloom. Was that fleeing figure
below him or Just his own distorted
shadow advancing before his rcck.
less dcsccnt7
on tho third floor he halted. Tho
door OF this apartment also. which
hts host had told him was occupied
by a woman portrait painter. was
! closed. but from the line OF the sin
streamed peculiar. bright light like
E beam OF sunshine. Tho professor
J ceased hls frul,leas efforts and rcjoin.
ed his companion Just as there cana
n soft thud and then from the street
level n violent ringing and pounding
Perhaps we were mistaken" Bar.
! ~ remarked TT might have been q
. fracas out In the street
The professor shook his head decid
ediy and then pointed TO the line Of
! light from beneath the door before
. them.
) Someone Is in here. NJ any rate
! We win knock"
Suiting his action 10 tho word. h,
: raped smartiy. waited. and raped
. again. but thero came no response
only the steady glare Of that garist
light and tho banging from the en-