The Sheridan Road Mystery

ate execution than to actually have a protecting outpost at this time, for the very nature of his experience would have told M

omewhat similar attack, and the mere thought that such a thing was possible stunned him into inaction for

and around over the man's head until he found

cried. "How could a man get that c

people passing up and down these stairs make very little noise unless a foot happens to strike the woodwork. And you can be s

ded Morgan, suddenl

n, then the girl has certainly bee

, I'll acknowledge that it takes a pret

lare. His two arms shot up, seized the men leaning over him and pulled them down. Like most people who have been knocked unconscious, Tierney had no idea of th

rgan-Morgan-do you understan

lect his thoughts. Then he smiled sheepishly as he looked

tair. There he sat for a moment, rubbing the sore spo

to a full realization of the situation. "A detective

ey," admonished Morgan.

like to know,"

ell us what happened up to the po

ured that if anybody came up the stairs I could see him before he spotted me. I heard a couple of people go out downstairs, but everything was quiet up here. I kept my eye on your friend here while he took the girl upstairs. After he went in I settled back

een hand, Tierney. How could anybody snea

old pipe of mine was wheezing like a sick horse when I began to pull on it. That's what gave the fell

ed your lesson. But I'm afraid yo

ke such a chance, and I doubt if anyone but the leading character would have been so anxious to get away quickly and unseen. Now then, let us go u

iously at Marsh. Then, as Morgan agreed to the idea, Tier

at him in a

erney is still sus

erstanding. Going over to Tie

amned!" Tier

ent, and Morgan's hand was already on the push button of t

cried. "L

about two inches, and there was sufficient light in the entrance h

his," Marsh whispered to Morgan. "You

y, with Tierney and Morgan in the lead. While Marsh remained in the entrance hall, Tierney stepped into the living room and Morgan crept cautiously through the portieres into the dining room. So silently did these two men move that Marsh heard, nothing until, a moment later,

he's in a chair in the dining room, and apparently unconsci

She was apparently unconscious, but there were convulsive movements of her body. Marsh sniffed the aromatic odor and nodded. "I don't t

e front," he directed. "Look through all the drawers a

med certain that no one had occupied it recently. The chief cause of the disorder seemed to have been a hasty examination of the closet. A roll of blankets and some other articles that had evidently been on the shelf of the closet had been pulled down and scat

it was unlocked. He locked it, and returning to the dining room, found that Marsh had succ

d deal of trouble today," sa

ed wanly

all. Burglars must be ex

t was a burglar

am sure that I have no enemies anywhere, a

g of special value in th

u," she replied "And these ring

ave anything of value conc

father uses when he co

e had something

he did not," she

wood?" asked Marsh, catching

ied, "and slightly nauseated, but I

looking over that room

d with Marsh's assistance,

the girl, leaning on

id's room, "somebody has pulled everything off the s

helf, and at the bottom of the closet. Then she turned to Morgan. "My fat

organ. "Was it a

xamined it, as it was always pretty we

rhaps there was something of value in it. We'd better go now," he added, turning

turned to her. "Do you expect your fath

tter yet. You see, I had just reached the

Morgan assured her. "There will be a policeman at the front and back of this

w, Miss Atwood," reminded Marsh. "If there is anything I c

and closed the door as the