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.