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 only two stories below. He gave it a glance, then lowered the window and walked to the door.

"Will I bring him along, sir?" said McGraw.

"No, leave him alone. Mr. Moffett, remain here till we come for you, please." And with that, Astro went out. In the hall he turned to McGraw.

"You don't mind my taking charge of this?" he asked.

"You bet I don't!" McGraw exclaimed. "But I don't see why you want Moffett to make a get-away."

"He can't get past the men down-stairs, can he?"

"That's right. But did you see any empty cartridge shells on the roof below?"

"No. We'll have to examine the roof later. Now we'll go up to Middlebury's office. We've lost too much time already."

"Have you a key to Middlebury's office, Thompson?" he asked on reentering the elevator.

"No, sir. Mr. Middlebury lost one of his office keys this week, and was given the duplicate the superintendent had till another one could be made for him."

"What did he need two for?"

"One was for his stenographer, I believe."

"Oh, he had a typewriter, then?" said Astro.

The elevator boy interrupted. "He had one, but she left to-day."

"How do you know that?" Astro turned to the youth with a keen gaze.

The elevator boy cowered under his inspection. "Why—she told me so, that's all."

The elevator had reached the tenth floor and stopped. The boy threw open the door and the party stepped out.