Not knowing what was in that grip Mr.Birnes was curious to see what came out of it.

Nothing came out of it--it was empty! There was no question of this, for Mr.Wynne opened it wide and turned it upside down to shake it out.

It didn't mean anything in particular to Mr.Birnes, the fact that the grip was empty, so he didn't get excited about it.
Mr.Wynne left the car at Thirty-fourth Street, the south end of the Park Avenue tunnel, by the front door, and the detective stepped off the rear end.

Mr.Wynne brushed past him as he went up the stairs, and as he did so he smiled a little--a very little.

He walked on up Park Avenue to Thirty-seventh Street, turned in there and entered a house about the middle of the block, with a latch-key.