The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-04-26

tray him is still missing. He has the
same reason tn fear discovery that he
had when he searched this place viii
he stop now? don't think so. We've
struck q warm trail. Sergeant"
.aYou think he'll attempt to find and
destroy this evidence somewhere else?"
"That's what would do. IL were
in his shoes. declared the novelist
81 feel pretty sure would conclude
that the evidence was In the only other
place it could be-his office That's
where I'd look next"
We've looked there" the detective
objected. "We didn't find anything"
"We didn't go all through his files. .
Peter was emphatic. "We looked. but
there are dozens of places such evi
dence might have been concealed. 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 will
probably look there next Unless he's
already been there It's worth try
ing. Let's go there and see. You nave
!. Franklin's keys. We can set q trap
for him"
Kilday. still welded to his theory
that Webster Spears was the murderer.
was nevertheless impressed. 1T would
probably be wild goose chase, but I'd
do II If | hadn't sent word to Bulls
to be at my Office. I'm going to con
front him with Calls Shipley and see
If he can or will identify her as the
woman he saw quarreling with Frank
lin In that study. They're both prob
ably waiting for me by now"
Then let me have the keys" urged
Peter ''T'll go alone It's worth try
ing, anyway"
Sergeant Kilday had not abandoned
his previous theory. spears Is my
man, but just the same I'm not over.
looking any possibilities he declared
on. the way back to his Office for
Franklin's keys.
IF You don't have a revolver, you'd
better take this one" He thrust q
blue automatic into his friends hand
as they parted. "Not." he added.
"that think you'll need It."
Peter laughed. "It's always the IN.
loaded gun that goes off," he retorted.
"and the bunch that looks like flivvef
sometimes brings home the bacon"
The offices Of Franklin and Dunbar
were on the second floor Of the Greer
building. Peter was familiar with the
general door plan as . result Of his
previous visit there with Dunbar and
Kilday. In the taxi. he formulated Q
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 do
tected and brighten or the intruder.
should he come.
It was Just eight o'clock. but the
building was nearly deserted. Only
two elevators were In operation, and
neither was waiting as he entered the
lobby, so Peter decided to walk up the
single flight of stairs, his FOOTBALLS
echoing In the deserted corridors. In
spite of his caution He paused at the
landing and removed his shoes Il
would not do to advertise his pres
ence.
With the exception of one globe,
burning in front of the elevator. and
q red bulb at the end Of the corridor.
marking fire exit, the door was in
darkness. Most Of the doors were
paneled with glass. so that light
within would betray their occupancy.
but this was not true of the suite occu.
pied by Franklin and Dunbar. A mum.
Der Of offices had been thrown into one
large suite for this firm. and here q
walnut paneled facade. with solid
door. barred the corridor.
Peter had not expected that He
hesitated In front Of the door. keys In
hand. What If the unknown visitor
he was expecting were already heref
Would he not be stepping into trap
Of his own making? He frowned at
the panels In search Of some telltale
CLEAN of light which would betray the
presence Of some one within. but II
there were light beyond that facade,
he could not detect 1t. He tried peer.
Ing through the key-hole, but 1t was
blind lock. with key-hole only on the
outer side. and defied the trick.
Well, It was a risk he had to take.
he shifted the keys to his left hand
and drew the revolver Kilday had
loaned him. II his quarry were al
ready here, Peter did not intend to be
caught mapping. Even 40 he took the
precaution. the novelist chuckled at
himself. "Tm going In for melo-
Drama he told himself. "There's no
one here"
The first key he cautiously tried did
not at. He withdrew It and selected
another whose irregularity seemed to
conform with the outline Of the slot
In the lock. This time It fitted. There
was only q slight click as he thrust
the key home. but It sounded startling
" loud IN the stiffness OF that CORR