Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-03-07

: would be his next mover
"The evidence he feared nigh
betray him is still missing. He hai
the same reason to fear discover.
that he had when he searched thi!
place. viii he stop now? dom
think SO. We've struck a warm trail
Sergeant"
"You think he'll attempt to lnt
and destroy this evidence some
where else?"
That's what | would do, II | were
In his Shoes" declared the novel
list. 81 feel pretty sure | would con.
clude that the evidence was In the
only other place it could be-hls Of
fee. That's where I'd look next"
We've looked there" the detec.
tive objected. I'VE didn't find any.
thing"
I'VE didn't go all through his
files" Peter was emphatic. but
that isn't the point. The murderer
doesn't know we've looked, does he?
| maintain that the man who was so
anxious to find something here win
probably look there next. Unless
he's already been there. It's worth
trying. Let's go there and see, You
have Franklin's keys. We can set a
trap for him"
Kilday, still welded to his theory
that Webster Spears was the muir
derer, was nevertheless impressed.
1T would probably be a wild goose
chase, but I'd do 1t If | hadn't sent
word to Bulls to be at my office.
I'm going to confront him with Cal
lis Shipley and see If he can or will
identify her as the woman he saw
quarrellng with Franklin in that
study. They're both probably wait
ing for me by now"
"Then let me have the keys"
urged Peter. IN go alone. It's
worth trying, anyway"
IF you don't have a revolver,
you'd better take this one" Kilday
thrust a blue automatic into his
friends hand as they parted. "Not,"
he added, that | think you'll need
It,"
Peter laughed. TITS always the
unloaded gun that goes off," he re-
torted, land the bunch that looks
like a fiivver sometimes brings home
the bacon"
The offices Of Franklin and Dun
bar we're on the second floor of the
Greer building. Peter was familiar
with the general plan as a result of
his previous visit there with Dun
bar and Kilday. In the taxi. he
formulated a plan. Franklin's keys
would admit him without difficulty.
Once inside he decided he would
wait In Franklin's private office, in
darkness, In order that his presence
might not be detected and frighten
off the intruder, should he come.
1t was just eight o'clock, but the
building was nearly deserted. With
the exception of one globe, burn
ing in front Of the elevator, and a
red bulb at the end of the corridor.
marking a fire exit, the floor was In
darkness. Most Of the doors were
paneled with glass, so that a light
within would betray their occu-
pancy, but this was not true of the
suite occupied by Franklin and Dun
bar. A number of offices had been
thrown into n large suite for this
firm, and here a walnut paneled IA
cade, with a solid door, barred the
corridor.
Peter had not expected that. He
hesitated in front Of the door, keys
in hand. What If the unknown Wis
itor he was expecting were already
here? Would he not be stepping
into a trap Of his own making? He
frowned at the panels In search of
some telltale CLEAN of light which
would betray some one within, but
II there were a light beyond that
facade, he could not detect 1t.
Well, 1t was a risk he had TO take.
lie shifted the keys to his left hand
and drew the revolver Kilday had
loaned him. If his quarry were al.
ready here, Peter did not intend to
be caught mapping. Even as he took
the precaution, the novelist chuckled
TO himself. I'm going In for melo-
DRAMA" he told himself. There's
no one here"
The first key he cautiously tried
oid not tit. He withdrew It and Sc
iected another whose irregularity
seemed to conform with the outline
OF the slot In the lock. This time II
ntted. There was only a slight click
as ne thrust the key home, but II
sounded startlingly loud In the still.
ness OF that corridor. How had the 1
Key made such a sound? Then he ]
smiled at his nervousness again. I
Don't get jumpy,' he cautioned /
himself as he turned the key. {
The door swung open with a slight {
creak and Peter stepped into the
office, his eyes straining to !
pierce the thickness Of the gloom. ]
Bis fingers CROPPED for the light {
switch. 1t should be somewhere /
near the door. :
Then he stopped rigid. Were hIs :
nQrvpa nlQ vino trtobn ~