Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/439

 "I see," said Astro suavely. "Well, if you can get in here, we'll go with you. Where is it?"

"Just around the corner, here, at the Aspenwall building on Grand Street." And, after Astro had given the order to the driver, McGraw went on. "You see, the night watchman has just telephoned for an officer, as something suspicious has happened. He seemed excited, and it may turn out something doing, or it may not."

"Well, I'll be glad to be first on the ground, at any rate," said Astro. "That ought to make it easier to solve, if it should happen to be a mystery."

He had scarcely finished when the car drew up at the entrance to the Aspenwall building. A full-bearded man in jumper and overalls was waiting scowling in the doorway. He came immediately forward.

"There's a murder or a suicide been committed here, I'm afraid," he began; "but I didn't want to do anything till I had the police, to be on the safe side. It's up on the tenth story, in Mr. Middlebury's office."

"Has any one left the building since you telephoned?"

"No, I made sure of that. The elevator boy thought he heard a shot fired, and I went around to all the lighted offices. They were all right except at Middlebury's office, where there was no answer when I knocked. The door was locked."

"How many tenants are in the building now?"

"There have only been two or three here to-night, and some went before this thing happened. There's only one I know of, Mr. Moffett, on the ninth. I think he's there yet. I spoke to him a little while ago."