“As a matter of fact, about all his father, Ezra Thompson, left him was the big house out on Russell Road and the Tremont Building.”
“Where’d he get his jack then? He ain’t never worked.”
“According to all reports, he got it in Wall Street in the bull market.”
“I said he was a lucky stiff. A lotta others lost their shirts.”
“I’ve heard a lot about Thompson. He’s of the type that insists on strict obedience to all his orders. Lately, he’s insisted on underlings jumping at the snap of his fingers.”
“When was he ’round here last?”
“I don’t think he’s been around here for quite some time.”
“We’re gettin’ a long ways away from Starr,” reminded Darwin.
“Starr has worked for Thompson for ten years. He knows his temperament. Evidently, Thompson has given him orders to keep out of his office and never to touch his desk. Starr’s the type that strictly obeys his boss’s orders.”
“That explains some things, but not everything. Why did he run when the lights went out, and keep on runnin’ when I was shootin’? Why did he give me an argument when I was bringin’ him back upstairs after puttin’ in a fuse? Why did he try to throw himself outta the winda when you made him look at that corpse?”
“Terror—”
“Just the same I think Starr knew that body was in the desk. It was put there till there was a chance to dispose of it.”
“How could it be disposed of?”
“There’s a heatin’ plant down in the basement.”
“Let’s go down to the basement.”
“We’ve been down there. I ruined this suit down there.”
“Let’s go down again.”
Darwin arose slowly.
“Elevator.”
As they passed the various doors along the hall, Farnsworth glanced at each.
“I’ve been through all them offices,” asserted Darwin.
“And the storeroom?”
“The storeroom too. It’s got a light in it. Come on. The day superintendent’ll be here at any minute and we’d oughta get to him the first thing.” The huge basement, even with all the lights turned on, was full of shadows and dark corners. It was all one room save for a portion at the rear, which had been partitioned off with stone. In the old days, that had been a kitchen. There was a range, covered with red dust and some pots and pans in evidence.
Rubbish also littered the floor of the larger portion and against the walls and in corners stood rickety tables, dressers and parts of beds, together with piles of chairs — furniture that had not been disposed of when a hotel that had once occupied the building had gone out of business. From the big furnace, asbestos-covered heating pipes extended upward like fat, gray worms and dust-covered wires webbed the ceiling.
There was a workbench, on which were tools and electrical equipment of various kinds. Near it hung two pairs of overalls, and beside them the uniform of an elevator operator.
“Nothin’ doin’,” said Darwin, after a quick search of the clothing.
Farnsworth nodded and started for the only exit — outside of the elevator and the stairs leading to the lobby — that they had discovered. It was a heavy iron door in the kitchen part which evidently opened into an areaway in the rear court. The door was locked and further secured with a great oak beam which fitted snugly in mortises in the stone.
The oak door showed no signs of having been disturbed for a long space of time, though Farnsworth scrutinized it inch by inch. When he had concluded that inspection, he sorted among Starr’s keys until he found one that fitted the lock. But so rusted were the tumblers they would not turn.
Farnsworth, followed by Darwin, then searched the shadowy reaches.
“Nothin’ down here,” Darwin declared, after a violent coughing spell. “Let’s go back up. I’m chokin’ to death in this damn dust.”
Briskly, Farnsworth walked over to a heap of furniture so far back that the light shone on it only dimly. Quickly, he touched a finger to a dresser top and holding the finger toward the light, stared at the thick smudge of dust. Then he ran his finger over the back of a bed, and again held it toward the light.
“Look, Darwin!” he exclaimed. “My finger is clean. No dust. We better move this furniture.”
Darwin’s lethargy vanished.
In the wall, behind the pile, was a steel door.
Chapter VI
The Hidden Door
As if pushed by an unseen hand the steel door swiftly and soundlessly swung shut behind Farnsworth and Darwin. In complete darkness, they stood in a small, musty stone chamber.
“What done that?” demanded Darwin sharply.
“Spring hinges,” responded Farnsworth, pressing the button of his flash light.
“We’re in a trap!” exclaimed Darwin. He drew his revolver.
He would have leaped at the door, but Farnsworth stopped him.
“There isn’t any lock,” said the inspector quietly.
Darwin pulled at the door. It opened readily. He released it and it closed quickly.
“Not a squeak,” he observed. “Plenty of oil on them hinges.”
Farnsworth turned his flash light here and there. Ahead, a small archway in the wall showed only more rough stones. To the right, a narrow flight of iron steps led upward and on that stairway, he centered his attention.
“Queer,” he remarked after a brief inspection.
“This whole damn buildin’s queer.”
“Those steps are clean.”
“They are clean,” assented Darwin, interest in his voice. “They’re clean and everythin’ else in here’s dusty.”
Farnsworth turned and went through the archway, Darwin at his heels.
An abrupt right turn brought them into a narrow tunnel which led toward the rear of the building. They had gone but a short distance when Farnsworth whirled and sent the beam of his flash light traveling over the course they had followed.
Darwin, his revolver ready, also faced the rear.
“See anything?” asked Farnsworth in a whisper.
“No, but I—”
“I don’t see anything either.”
“I feel like we’re being followed.”
Farnsworth extinguished his light, and in thick darkness they both stood listening tensely.
“Come on,” said Farnsworth, after a considerable interval.
“O.K.”
With the flash sending a white pencil of light ahead, they proceeded until another steel barrier stopped them.
Farnsworth’s light played on the knob.
“Wiped clean.”
Farnsworth placed his hand on the knob and pulled. When he pushed, the door opened.
Darwin put his foot against the door and examined the outside.
“No knob,” he said. “But there’s a keyhole.”
Swiftly, he tried the various keys on Starr’s ring.
“No can do,” he remarked.
Farnsworth produced another key.
“That’s the right one!” Darwin exclaimed. “And ties up with Starr.”
“With Starr?” asked Farnsworth without interest.
“Sure with Starr. That’s the key I took outta the watch pocket in Starr’s pants. It’s the key to the special lock on the door to Thompson’s office.”
Farnsworth passed through the door into a small chamber, roofed over with heavy planking and began to climb an iron stairway, Darwin meanwhile holding the steel door open with his foot.
At the top Farnsworth pushed against the planks and a trap door opened, a rush of clean air following.
“Lock the door before you come up,” he said the Darwin.
Darwin allowed the steel door to close, turned the key, and ascended.