"
In the darkness we settled ourselves for another vigil that was to
last we knew not how long. Neither of us spoke as we half crouched
in the shadow of our room, listening.
Slowly the time passed. Would any one take advantage of the
opportunity to tamper with the box of cigarettes on the table?
I fell to speculating. Who could it possibly have been that had
conceived this devilish plot? What was back of it all? I wondered
whether it were possible that Lockwood, now that Mendoza was out
of the way, could desire to remove Whitney, the sole remaining
impediment to possessing the whole of the treasure as well as
Inez? Then there were the Senora and Alfonso, the one with a deep
race and family grievance, the other a rejected suitor. What might
not they do with some weird South American poison?
Once or twice we heard the elevator door clang and waited
expectantly, but nothing happened. I began to wonder whether, even
if some one had a pass-key to the suite, we could hear him enter
if he was quiet. The outside hall was thickly carpeted, and
deadened every footfall if one exercised only reasonable care. The
rooms themselves were much the same.
"Don't you think we might have the door ajar a little?" I
suggested anxiously.
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