Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-09-26

began to explore with one hand. II
was nervous work, and Gun 5
nerves were rot in the best trim.
He was surprised and annoyed 10
find himself wet with pcrSpIration
after a few seconds. His fingers
touched something hard and cold
which raised his hopes for 4 mo-
ment, and then caused him TO
curse inwardly. It was not the
KEYS. but the pistol. And the Keys
were behind il.
Nothing for it but patience.
Slowly. with the tips OF his fingers
Gun worked the automatic aside 4
little. bit by bit. until at last his
ungers could set past it, and the
tip of the fortnugcr could hook it.
self around the kcyring. Then the
business of drawing it slowly to-
ward him. not inch BY inch, but
fraction by fraction.
But it was done at last, and he
had the keys in his hand.
Then, still on all fourS-there
must be no shadow across the face
Of the sleeper-Gun crcpt to the
door, opened livery slowly. in
case it should creak-aNd at last
stood in the passage outside.
He closed the door behind him
noiscleSsly-then realized that he
had TorcCttor ~ f"ie his bed, in
ca, ..-... s..ould wake, or par
TALLY wake, and take a glance
ar il.
Hands and knees again, and
back into the room. More quickly
and less cautiously this time-the
precious minutes were slipping
away all too quickly.
Gun arranged the bolster to look
as much like sleeping form as
possible. and then back 10 the pas
sage. On his feet once more, and
the legs still Shaliy. curse it.
Now another danger to be faced.
The bungalow was queerly de-
signed, and to get to Trents Office
he had to pass through the
kitchen. Sambo'S domain, and if
the Negro was still awake :?
Gun strained his ears, but could
hear no sound, except for Trent's
breathing coming family through
the closed door. He catfoOted to the
closed door of the kitchen, turned
the handle very slowly, and opened
it an inch. No light in the kitchen,
and no sound.
He decided, if Samho should be
there and should wake. to look as
sleepy as possible and ask for
drinking water. That might pass
muster, or it might not-could only
try it.
He switched on his torch, and
sent the little beam Of light
searching around the kitchen. No
one there.
With a faint sigh of relief Gun
slipped, ghost-lille, into the kitchen
and closed the door behind him.
\ second door opposite to him,
leading TO the entrance passage.
He opened that with less caution,
not anticipating that anyone would
be on the other side.
Luckily his anticipation was cor
rect.
Noiselessly Gun moved forward
to the Office door. It was locked
but the key was on the bunch he
had borrowed. \ Ya1c lock, and
only two Yale key Ill the collec-
ton. That was easy. Gun let him.
self into the Office. and let the door
lock itself behind him.
The room was pitch dark. but he
remembered with a grateful heart
that the curtains over the single
widow were dark and thick. He
could, therefore, put his torch on
with safety-comparatively.
He sent the little circle Of light
flashing around the room, then
crossed to the window and made
sure that the window was proper
ly covered, SO that no CLEAN of |
light could be seen from outside. |
Satisfied q THU. he still did not
dare to put the electric light on.
Despite the thickness of the cur
tain STUFF. that might show
through. 10, - must worl: with |.
his torch.
He turned MS attention TO the
desk, aHd the first thing his eyes
lighted on was the cigaret box.
This tine the temptation vas too
strong.
He op5ae3 It. There were a:x
c.GarctS on thu . :op layer, and
Trent, he realize. might @cmem-
Der. lie took enc from tie lover
layer. a1G { "GIged therl so tl.at
there were [! six or top. Then ne
r.ouched do" behind the desk and
Ii the cig1lct with his gold
'i-htCr.