Part 30 (2/2)

The dust rose in clouds. The inspector snapped his flashlight and fell back with an exclamation, disappointed and surprised.

The light shone on bare floors and walls. Its power was radically diminished by the long acc.u.mulated dust their entrance had disturbed. As far as the first floor was concerned they stood in an empty house.

Manford sneered.

”A fine plan of yours, inspector!”

The inspector glared his dislike.

”I'm beginning to think you were jealous a minute ago, young man.”

”Then you've quite disarmed my unworthy emotion,” Manford laughed.

Garth had read more than dislike in the inspector's manner. It had veiled, he was sure, a positive, an increasing fear; and the scorn of his voice had not thoroughly cloaked its uncertainty.

”Get up stairs,” he snarled to his men. ”Scour every inch of this place.”

He turned back to Manford.

”I'll swear they were here this afternoon. This house was used as a dive no later than this afternoon.”

Manford chuckled, indicating the dust which still whirled in the rays of the flash light.

The plain-clothes men returned almost at once. There was not a person in the house--not a piece of furniture. The grime on the walls, the thick dust testified to its long disuse.

Manford's superior wisdom appeared justified. The intolerance of a position and a success, both inherited, shone in his eyes, expressed itself in his voice. He drew his coat closer about him. He touched his hat. It a.s.sumed a jauntier air.

”Good night, inspector,” he drawled. ”I cut the opera to take in this example of police efficiency. I hope my society, on its own initiative, will be able to make more progress with the case. Maybe I'll find some amus.e.m.e.nt chatting with the lieutenant at the station house. At least I can learn from the police what sins to omit.”

The inspector strangely, did not answer. Manford lighted a cigarette, grinning, and strolled down the steps.

Garth marvelled at the inspector's lack of belligerency. He looked at him more closely. The big man's jaw had fallen. He stared without purpose at the blank walls. The picture made Garth afraid. He grasped the inspector's arm. He drew him to one side.

”How were you so sure?” he asked under his breath. ”Because Nora gave you this number?”

The inspector shook his head. His great shoulders trembled.

”No. She had no number to give me. But this afternoon I saw her enter this house. I watched the door close behind her, and, Garth--she has never come out.”

Garth with frantic haste explored the place himself from roof to cellar.

There was no question. It had remained uninhabited for many months, perhaps years. Yet Nora had told her father that, while its location had been kept from her, she had arranged a certain entry to the evil house that afternoon. She had told him to follow her. He had seen the door close behind her.

Garth scarcely dared open his mind to full comprehension. If Nora had been directed to this deserted building and admitted, it was clear that her connection with the police had been discovered. It was logically certain that she had walked into an elaborately plotted ambush.

He hurried to the sidewalk where he found the inspector braced heavily against the rail.

”What can I do, Garth?” the big man asked hoa.r.s.ely.

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