Page:Burton Stevenson--The marathon mystery.djvu/345

Rh “That ’ll do,” assented Godfrey, and took the key. “Now, you stay down here.”

“No fear,” said Higgins promptly. “Though,” he added gloomily, “mebbe I’d better telephone fer some ambulances.”

We went softly up the stair and down the dimly lighted corridor to Tremaine’s door. We could see by the transom that the room was dark.

“I want to surprise him,” whispered Godfrey. “If he has two or three minutes’ warning, he may be able to get rid of some evidence. He’s probably in bed and we must get to the bedroom door without his hearing us. How does the bedroom door lie, Lester, with reference to this one?”

“Straight ahead,” I answered hoarsely.

“That’s good; are you ready?”

“Yes,” said Simmonds, and cocked his revolver.

As for me, I grasped my stick more firmly, glad that it was a stout one.

“All right,” said Godfrey, and he threw back the bolt and opened the door.

The room was in absolute darkness, save for the dim stream of light from the hall. We entered cautiously, Godfrey in the lead.

“Have your lantern ready, Simmonds,” he whispered, and I caught the odour of heated metal as Simmonds obeyed the order.

Two, three, four steps we advanced, feeling our way—then I heard a startled cry from Godfrey—an instant’s pause…

“Quick, Simmonds, quick!” he cried, in a stifled voice. “The lantern!”