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Show TIlO MFpfl7 By Randal! j i ne iviysiGiy 01 panish fps Author cf ifi mm u Copyright, by RKnrtall Parrish ggg - --- - CHAPTER XIII Continued. 20 I stood irresolute, undecided as to tny next move. I felt convinced I was at last on the right trail but how could I verify my suspicion? There seemed to be but one sure method. Whoever had actually committed the murder and robbery, I still clung to the theory that Ivan VValdron knew him, and would demand his share as the price of a silent tongue. Nor would he, undot present circumstances, be content to wait very long for such a division. He needed the money more than ever to escape from the observation of the police. If Wine had possession of the valise he would certainly be called upon to deliver a portion of Its contents very shortly. My best course, then, was to keep an eye open for Waldron ; If he came, there would be no doubt as to the exact nature of his errand. The stairway gave me no advantage advan-tage ; it was open and doubtless frequently fre-quently used. To be seen loitering there for any length of time would attract at-tract attention. I ventured to try the private door, but, as expected, found It securely locked, nor did I dare exert ex-ert any force, not knowing who might be Inside. The office remained quiet, ' no one either leaving or entering, nor did I observe any shadow on the frosted glass, indicative of movement within. Baflied and uncertain, I had i barely returned to my point of concealment, con-cealment, when an elevator stopped I at this floor level, and three men 1 stepped out into the corri lor. Two of I them attracted no attention, but the 1 third was in his shirt-sleeves and wore a cap with some insignia upon it. He advanced briskly, and flung open the door leading Into what had once been the "Railway Exchange," and I motioned the others to enter. As the three vanished, I heard him explain that this was the only vacant suite on this floor, and then another voice said, dissatisfied, that it was altogether altogeth-er too small for their purpose. When they came out the agent closed the door carelessly and pressed the elevator ele-vator button, saying he would show them something on the second floor above. Even as they shot up out of sight I was across the corridor with hand on the knob. I feared a springlock, but was pleasantly disappointed, the door opening instantly, permitting me to slip Inside. There were two rooms, 1 both small, and littered with the fragments frag-ments left by the late occupants. What struck me forcibly was that there was no connection between those rooms and the next suite; they were separated by a thick wall. I could hide here securely enough, and, by slightly lifting the glass, gain good view of the corridor, but it would be impossible to overhear anything taking tak-ing place In Wine's office. At that, the position was better for my purpose pur-pose than the open stairway, and I Unfastened the window sash, propping It open a crack so as to afford me a fair view. If Waldron appeared I would endeavor to discover some means of learning the object of his visit. Meanwhile I was safe enough, and able to observe every movement on the ftoor. " - Suddenly, when I least expected it, the door of the Investment office opened, and a young woman came out. She had her hat on, and I took note of a pencil stuck into her hair, and felt no doubt she was Wine's stenographer, stenog-rapher, who had finished her day's work and was departing for home. Then the man was probably still there alone. The girl disappeared down the elevator, and could scarcely have reached the lower floor, when a cage traveling in the opposite direction stopped and discharged a passenger. It was a woman who stepped out, glancing quickly about as though uncertain un-certain where to go, and I recognized Marie Gessler. She started down the corridor, looking look-ing for the numbers on the doors, and then, discovering herself wrong, retraced re-traced her steps and approached Wine's door. Even then she appeared ap-peared to doubt her next move, glancing glanc-ing around as though anxious to re-i re-i main unobserved before venturing I farther. Then, opening the door j quickly, she disappeared within. In I that moment, before the door closed, ' I caught the sound of a man's voice, i startled, uttering a single surprised j exclamation. 1 "You here! What does this mean?" Then a low spoken answer, the , words inaudible, and ended by a click of the latch. That closed door seemed to urge me to learn what was transpiring be- :yond; I could not fight back the temptation. But would it open? had it been left unlocked? The only way In which I could ascertain was to try. There was no one to witness my attempt, at-tempt, and, even if some office door suddenly opened, I could quickly find concealment in the nearby stairway. I crept out through a narrow crack, and approached on tiptoe the entrance to Wine's office. No sound reached me from within, and my fingers silently si-lently pressed the knob, which ' turned without resistance the latch was off. A half inch at a time I ' pe:ied ice door, listening for any noise behind, my eyes peering through the narrow crack at what was revealed re-vealed within. They perceived little, merely a small, unoccupied room, evidently evi-dently an outer office, containing a cheap desk, two chairs and a typewriting type-writing stand, the machine covered. Two maps hung upon the walls; in one corner was a glass water-holder, and In the other a diminutive closet, the door ajar. That was all, except that Indistinguishable voices were conversing con-versing somewhere beyond the partition parti-tion and well out of view. Encouraged to believe this I thrust my head far enough forward to make sure. A step to the left would doubtless doubt-less have revealed Wine, but from where I stood the end of the partition interfered. By slipping to the right it woud be quite possible for me to enter en-ter without being seen, and three cautious steps would bring me to the security of the closet. From there, with the door Into the corridor closed, I might overhear all that passed between be-tween the two. I had ventured too far now to retreat, and, without a. second sec-ond of hesitation, I pressed through the narrow opening, and silently closed the door behind me. Confident that I had not been detected, I crouched Into the narrow closet, scarcely knowing whether to be ashamed or proud of my success. I could clearly distinguish the words of conversation. At first these were hardly understandable, seemingly seeming-ly having no connection with any matter mat-ter with which I felt concerned. The two were evidently discussing money, to be sure, but In terms involving the payment of Interest, and the impossibility impossi-bility of extending a loan. I overheard over-heard her say, quietly but firmly : "I came to you, Mr. Wine, because of our connection in other matters. I overheard this discussion, and- felt you ought to be forewarned." "I appreciate your kindness," he answered, an-swered, evidently surprised, "but sim- m m "Felt You Ought to Be Forewarned." ply cannot raise the amount today it is too late." "It does not have to be raised today, to-day, but before the closing of banking bank-ing hours tomorrow." "I can have it by then," desperately. "I was sure you could, if I only explained ex-plained the necessity.1" She arose as though her purpose had been accomplished, but apparently appar-ently the man was uneasy, and desired de-sired to know more. "But I fail to understand your interest in-terest ; why should you take the trouble trou-ble to come here and tell me this?" She laughed lightly. "Why? really it Is easily enough understood. un-derstood. We are together, are we not? Now that Captain Alva is dead. It Is generally believed you will be selected to lead in this work. Oh, yes It is ; I have already been so informed. in-formed. And in that case it Is absolutely ab-solutely necessary that your hank connections be excellent. There are other funds already in this country." "Other funds! I supposed this last payment was to be all." "Assuredly not ; the cause cannot stop for an instant merely because of this loss. Moreover, that will doubtless doubt-less be recovered." "Do you think so? Have the police po-lice found any clues?" "The police! Hardly, but there are others searching, not so easily turned aside. We believe we know already who got the money." "You you think you you know?" he could not keep the tremble out of his voice. "Was was it one of us?" "It could scarcely be an outsider, for the secret was guarded well. Only those of that circle knew the money was here even, while not more than two or three were aware of Its having hav-ing been passed over to Alva. I can't say any more nt present, Mr. Wine. You knew Captain Alva very well, did you not?" "Y-yes ; that Is, we were good friends. We had much in common." "Are you Herman?" "By blood yes. but born in Poland Po-land ; Captain Alva's mother was also a Pole; this brought us closer together." to-gether." "And you have no suspicion of any one who could have known, and been guilty of this murder and robbery?" "Why should I? Why you ask m that?" excitedly. "There were many there ; perhaps all know except ma. You not suppose I know he he die?" "Oh, no ; I merely thought yon might have some suspicion, that wai all. It was a strange weapon he was killed with." "A strange weapon ! What yon mean, a strange weapon? Do they know what it was that killed him?" "Certainly ; It was picked up in the bottom of the auto a dagger hatpin, hat-pin, such as women wear. See, it was just like this of mine." She must have plucked the ornament orna-ment from out her own hat and laid It on the desk, for I heard the faint click of its fall. There was a moment mo-ment of Intense silence, and I could vision the intense horror with which he was staring at the Instrument, unable un-able to command words. "That thing!" he burst forth finally. final-ly. "Killed with that!" "No, not that ; but one exactly Ilka it." "Who says so the police? Gottl it could not kill a man. Why you tell me this why?" "Oh, only because I thought you might be interested. However, let's not talk about It any more. You will settle that account before the close of banking hours tomorrow?" j "I? Yes, I will settle." I There was the sound of a foot on the cement floor of the corridor without, with-out, and, almost at the same Instant the electric light, which had been turned on, revealed a man's shadow on the glass of the closed door. Ha seemed to stand there hesitatingly; then he rapped with his knuckles on the glass. 1 flattened myself out against tha inner wall of the closet, aware that the two in the second office were com-.' ing forward together, .Wine giving vent to a startled oath In his excite-! ment. He strode straight to the door, and opened It with a jerk. "You, hey! What the devil do you want here?" " "A word with you, and A n quick " . ' ' i It was Waldron's voice, but his speech ended abruptly, as his eyes caught sight of the woman. She wasted no time. "I was just gotng," she said calmly, calm-ly, ignoring him, but speaking directly to Wine. "I will see you tomorrow then." She passed between the two, without with-out so much as favoring the Russian with a glance, and he stared after her with open mouth, then stepped back to wafch her progress down the corridor. Wine drew him hastily aside, closing the door tightly and shooting the night-latch. i "The d n girl never locks this door when she goes out," he muttered angrily, wheeling about to face the other. "Now, speak up, will you I what sends you butting in here?" ' "Well, first you tell me," thundered Waldron, gripping the other angrily with one hand, "what business that female has with you? By God, Wine, If you are trying to double-cross, you'll find me no easy mark. Answer, you cur what was she here for?" ; "Nothing, only private business." ; "You promised to see her tomor-row? tomor-row? "Yes, It was to pay a note. Come in here, and I'll explain all. There's nothing to frighten you, Waldron." : The two disappeared into the inner room, Waldron's voice still rumbling, with Wine interjecting a word now and then. I ventured to "stand erect again in the confines of the closet, and jiess my ear to the crack of the Inner door. Both men were confident of being alone, and so deeply Immersed Im-mersed in their own affair as to speak with little restraint. Waldron, really affrightened at this discovery of Miss Gessler, adopted the method of a bully to carry his point, more eager than ever to escape the city. "Well," he began, thumping the desk with a fist, "now you begin to spill. Don't try to work any game on me. What do you mean by paying pay-ing a note? You owe her something?" "No; now listen, and don't get mad. I tell you just how it was," and Wine endeavored to be smooth and plausible, plaus-ible, his voice pitched so low I had difficulty in hearing the words. "She said 1 was to succeed Alva, and be tlie revolutionary arent; partly she came to tell me this, but some way she learning of my indebtedness, that I have an overdue note at the bank " "How the h I did she know that?" "I could not tell," apparently surprised sur-prised himself. "I never asked, but maybe Krnntz he told her. When they talked over my being given charge of the fund yes. that must ba the way, for she insisted I must straighten that matter up quick, before be-fore other money was given me." (TO BE CONTINUED.) 1 Druggists would ratlu-r sell a ponnt" j of ?ure than an ounce ot prevention. |