Tierney lay stretched out across the landing, apparently asleep.
But Morgan knew the man better.
CHAPTER X
THE STOLEN SUITCASE
The placing of Tierney on guard in the hall had been an impulsive act on Morgan's part. It was more to put an idea into immediate execution than to actually have a protecting outpost at this time, for the very nature of his experience would have told Morgan that after the mysterious attack upon Jane Atwood there would be little possibility of a similar occurrence the same day. The instant he saw Tierney lying in the hall, however, he realized that the man had been the victim of a somewhat similar attack, and the mere thought that such a thing was possible stunned him into inaction for a moment. The next minute both he and Marsh were kneeling at Tierney's side and endeavoring to arouse him.
Morgan removed Tierney's cap and passed his hand around over the man's head until he found a slight lump, a little back of the right ear.
"Knocked out with a black-jack!" he cried. "How could a man get that close to Tierney without being heard!"
"The carpet in these halls and on the stairs is well padded," explained Marsh. "I have noticed on a number of occasions that people passing up and down these stairs make very little noise unless a foot happens to strike the woodwork. And you can be sure of one thing, Morgan, this man must have been pretty close at hand. He got into action without having to do much climbing."
"Or descending," added Morgan, suddenly, looking at Marsh.