Part 2 (2/2)

Monk opened his mouth, then closed it. He hadn't thought of getting diving equipment, as a matter of fact. There was nothing much he could say about that.

”But just the same, you shyster,” he howled, ”you'd better let me be the one that goes down. Sharks like pork, and if I lost you, I really would have a job explaining to Doc.”

Still squabbling, the three piled into a taxicab and set out to find a hotel, charter a boat and rent diving equipment.

Even Ham forgot that they had agreed one of them should keep an eye on their grimy-faced pilot.

No one else paid any attention to the pilot, either. But he seemed greatly interested in the story of the murder.

As soon as the plane was housed in a hangar, the pilot took a small bag and entered a washroom. When he emerged, he looked far different.

For one thing, his features were no longer grimy. He wore a neat blue serge suit. A dilapidated hat replaced the cap he had worn. Horn-rimmed spectacles even gave his face a different appearance.

Checking his bag, he hailed a cab. About half an hour later, he appeared at the office building where the slaying had occurred.

REPORTERS had already left the building. So had all the police and detectives, except one. That one was left to guard the premises.

He was a very disgruntled detective, with the disposition of a bear just roused from his winter's sleep.

His ears still were red from a tongue-las.h.i.+ng from the chief of police.

It was the sympathetic detective who had permitted Alice Dawn to slip away. Alice was still missing.

When the mild-appearing man in blue serge and horn-rimmed spectacles appeared, the detective exploded. He tried to toss the mild-appearing man out.

Much to his surprise, the other caught him by the wrists, held him so he couldn't move. ”Take it easy, copper,” the mild-appearing man said. ”Maybe I can help you out of the doghouse.”

The detective's jaw dropped. The other let go, dug out a police card. It was a New York police card, issued to ”Jack Warren, of the New York Press.”

”Give,” Warren advised briefly.

The detective drew in a deep breath, prepared for a new outbreak. Then he looked at Warren and changed his mind. He started talking.

Warren listened sympathetically. That really opened the floodgates. The detective talked at length and in detail.

”I thought she was on the level,” he concluded at last. ”I didn't see how anyone that pretty could lie.”

His face became doleful. ”But she did. A shot had been fired from the closet. Maybe it was even the murder shot. Now she's hidden out.”Jack Warren didn't say anything for a while. He walked about the two office rooms, inspected the closet.

He asked a great many questions. In particular he went over all the walls very closely.

The detective watched him hopefully. There was something about this guy that gave him confidence. He made no objection at all when Warren opened the drawers of Gadberry's desk, inspected all the contents.

Few papers seemed to be there. In fact, here was little evidence that Gadberry had done any work in the office at all.

”He rented this place a couple of months ago, but spent little time here,” the detective explained.

Jack Warren nodded. He was inspecting a map he had found in one of the drawers. It was a very good map.

”The secretary here often?” Warren asked.

The detective nodded glumly. ”Every day. But no one seems to know what she did.”

Jack Warren slipped the map into his pocket unnoticed. He turned to leave.

”Hey,” the detective cried in alarm. ”You said you might help me. Did you find out anything?”

The mild-appearing man paused. ”If I were you,” he said slowly, ”I wouldn't waste time looking for a small man in baggy clothes as the killer. I believe I would hunt for a tall man, probably as big as Gadberry.”

The detective started to speak. Warren beat him to it. ”Since you already know the girl lied on some things, doesn't it sound reasonable she might have given you a description exactly opposite of the truth?”

he asked reasonably.

A slow grin spread over the detective's features. That was so. Maybe he could get out of the doghouse yet.

Warren started to close the door behind him, then stuck his head back in. ”I think you might investigate, also, to see if there might not be a connection between this killing and the 'sea serpent' that was seen several days ago,” he advised.

The door slammed shut. The detective's grin vanished. He started forward angrily. He'd been played for a sap again, he thought bitterly. Now, how could there be a connection between a sea serpent and a murder?

THE mild-appearing man made his way to the street rapidly. He found a telephone booth and put in a call for New York. He did not call the New York Press.

It was almost dusk when he went to the Kirkland Hotel.

The clerk on duty was the same one who had seen Hahln leave the hotel several days before. He was wondering what had happened to Hahln when Jack Warren appeared.

The mild-appearing man explained he was an amateur photographer. He was looking for a hotel where he could fix up his own dark room. Was that permitted here?

The night clerk beamed. The Kirkland Hotel desired permanent tenants. Certainly, it could be arranged if Mr.-”Jackson,” the other supplied.

”We have a Mr. Hahln here now who also is an amateur photographer,” the clerk added.

The mild-appearing man seemed interested. He suggested he would like to see how Hahln had arranged his room.

The clerk looked disappointed. He didn't believe Hahln was in. ”Call 651,” he instructed the telephone girl.

There was no answer. The mild-appearing man seemed undecided. Then he said he would come back later. He left the building.

Across the lobby a man rose casually, went to the elevator. He asked for the seventh floor. After the elevator left he went down the hallway to the stairs, then walked down to the sixth floor.

The mild-appearing man did not know that. When he came back into the hotel through the service entrance he made his way direct to the sixth floor, found Room 651.

The door was locked. He took a small metal object from his pocket, put it in the keyhole and manipulated it swiftly. The door opened.

He had closed the door behind him and was reaching for a light switch when the two men hidden inside jumped on him.

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