Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/440

 "Better ring for a couple more men, McGraw," said Astro.

After the party had entered the corridor, McGraw rang up the office, then returned to the elevator. The boy had just come out, and was standing with white scared face in the corridor. He was a thin anemic youth of eighteen, with red hair and roving, pale blue eyes with dilated pupils.

"Now, young fellow," said McGraw, "what do you know about this?"

"Nothing, sir. Only, I thought I heard a shot fired, and I called Thompson."

"You didn't go up yourself?"

"No, only to take Thompson. I waited in the car while he knocked on the door."

"Where did you find Thompson?"

"On the fifth floor. I went down to the boiler-room at first, thinking he was there; then I tried each floor till I found him."

"What time did you hear the report?"

"About half past eleven o'clock."

"How many people have you taken up on the elevator this evening?"

"Only one or two. Mr. Moffett went up to his office on the ninth at eight o'clock or so—he must be there now—Mr. Smythe, on the fourth; but he left at ten o'clock, about. I don't remember the others."

Astro now turned to the night watchman, Thompson, a heavy-set hairy man, who stood with his mouth open, listening as if fascinated.

"What have you been doing this evening, Thompson?"

"Why, I had a bite of lunch in the boiler-room at