Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-10-01
CHAPTER Iv-Continued
-

Once again the three men stood mo-
honless, listening intently. but the
sound was not repeated Absolute 81
lence reigned, broken only by the noise
Of their own breathing. And at last,
after what seemed an interminable
pause. Drummond switched on his
torch again. The passage was empty /;
the door Of the inner Office was just
In front Of them. Almost he was per-
suaded that he must have made mis-
take-that it had been his magma
ton. He peered through the keyhole:
the room was in darkness. He turned
the handle cautiously; the door gave
to him; and still with his torch held
well in front of him, he stepped into
the room, turning the light into every
corner Not trace ot anyone; the
inner office was absolutely empty. He
flashed the light all round the walls,
as far as he could see there was no
other door-not even a window. Con-
sequently the only way out was by
the door through which they had Just
entered, which was obviously impos-
stble for anyone to have done without
his knowledge.
1T is all right" he muttered, turn
ing round to the other two. Must
have been my mistake Now then,
Ginger, let's tackle the big desk first"
AS he spoke he moved into the cen
ter of the room, his torch lighting up
the big roll-top desk.
"Right-ho, guv'nor. Keep the beam
on the keyhole-"
The crook bent over his task, only
to strengthen up suddenly as all the
lights went on.
Eyer do fool" he snarled. Switch
'em off 1t amt SAFE"
II didn't pun 'em onl" snapped
Drummond.
"Nor l." said birmingham.
For moment or two no one spoke !;
then Ginger Martin made a wild dive
for the door, But the door which
had opened so easily few moments
before now refused to bulge, though
he tugged at it, cursing horribly. And
after while he gave it up, and turned
on Drummond like a wild beast.
you've trapped me, yer - swine.
I'll get even with you over this il /
swing for 1t"
But Drummond, to whom the pres
ence of actual danger was as meat
and drink, took not the slightest no
tice. His brain, ice-cold and clear.
was moving rapidly. It had not been
a mistake, he had heard voices-voices
which came from that very room in
which they now were. Men had been
there-men who had got out by some
other way. And Ginger Martin was
trapped-all of them. More ont of
thoughtlessness than anything else. he
brushed the swearing crook aside with
the back of his hand-much as one
brushes away a troublesome fly. And
Martin, feeling as If he'd been kicked
in the mouth by a horse, ceased to
swear.
1t was uncanny-devilish. The room
empty, save for them, suddenly flooded
with light. But by whom? Drum
mond felt they were being watched.
But by whom2 And then suddenly he
heard Ted Jerningharn's voice, low and
tense
There's a man watching u.s. Hugh
can see his eyes. In that big safe
door,"
Like a flash, Drummond swung
round, and looked at the safe. Ted
was right; he could see the eyes him.
self, and they were fixed on him with
an expression of malignant fury.
through kind of opening that looked
like the slit in a letter box. For a
moment or two they remained there.
staring at him, then they disappeared
also, and seemed to become part of
the door. And 1t was just as he was
moving toward this mysterious safe to
examine it closer that with a sudden
clang, another opening appeared-one
much larger than the first. He stopped
Involuntarily as something was thrown
through into the room-something
Ehich Kissed and spluttered.
For a moment he gazed at it I'M
:omprehendingly as it lay on the floor /;
then he gave a sudden, tense order.