"Sh-s-sh! Here we are!"
Steingall tapped lightly on a panel of 505, and the four listened silently for any response. None came—that is, there was nothing which could be recognized as the sound of a voice or of human movement inside the room. Nevertheless, they fancied they heard something, and the detective knocked again, somewhat more insistently. Now they were intent for the slightest noise behind that closed door, and they caught a subdued groan or whine, followed by the metallic creak of a bed-frame.
At that instant a chamber-maid hurried up.
"I was just going to 'phone the office," she said to the clerk. "A little while ago I tried to enter that room, but my key would not turn in the lock."
"Did you hear anyone stirring within?" asked the clerk.
"No, sir. I knocked, and there was no answer."
"Listen now, then."
A third time did Steingall rap on the door, and the strange whine was repeated, while there could be no question that a bed was being dragged or shoved to and fro on a carpeted floor.
"My land!" whispered the girl in an awed tone. "There's something wrong in there!"
"Let me try your key," said the clerk. He rattled the master-key in the keyhole, but with no avail.