A moment later, Dan hurried into the Dodge library.
"For heaven's sake, Chief, hurry!" he whispered hoarsely. "The falsers must have fallen down. The girl herself is coming!"
Dan himself had no time to waste. He retreated into the hallway just as
Jennings was opening the door for Elaine.
Marie took her wraps and left her, while Elaine handed her numerous packages to Jennings. Dan watched every motion.
"Put them away, Jennings," she said softly.
Jennings had obeyed and gone upstairs. Elaine moved toward the library.
Dan took a quiet step or two behind her, in the same direction.
In the library, Clutching Hand was now frantically searching for the spring. He heard Elaine coming and dodged behind the curtains again just as she entered.
With a hasty look about, she saw no one. Then she went quickly to the panel, found the spring, and pressed it. So many queer things had happened to her since she went out that she had begun to worry over the safety of the papers.
The panel opened. They were there, all right. She opened the box and took them out, hesitating to break the seal before Kennedy arrived.
Stealthy and tiger-like the Clutching Hand crept up behind her. As he did so, Dan gazed in through the portieres from the hall.