Page "mystery" Paragraph 806

His thoughts were scattered by the sharp report of a rifle from the other side of the door.

Hoag pushed open the door: at the far end of the long dark room Muller was faintly silhouetted against the window, the rifle still raised ; ;

he stood with his feet apart on a kitchen table he had dragged to the sill.

He turned his head to the source of the disturbance and instantly back to the window and his rifle sight, dismissing Hoag for the moment with the same contempt he had shown in their encounter at Hoag's apartment.