ld deal with her. But
the others ... they displayed very little emotion. He had no idea how to
handle them.

Thompson sat down again facing Harry.

"The fact is," he began gracefully, "we discovered this microphone and
four others like it here in Miss Ralston's apartment. One in each room.
Now we are very cautious people, Mr. Payne. We are quite certain no one
knows our whereabouts. It is logical then that the microphones have not
been here long. Miss Ralston's only visitors are ourselves and you. You
have known her two days. So you are the only person who knows this
apartment well enough to have planted these tell-tale devices in a
hurry."

"Why should I want to plant them?"

"You took the trouble to have Miss Ralston investigated. But more than
one means of investigation produces better results. The microphones were
wired to a small radio which we located in the basement of this
building. We have assumed that everything spoken into them was
transmitted over the radio and recorded at your end. That makes sense,
doesn't it?"

Harry was confused. "So far, so good."

"We want those recordings, Mr. Payne."

They seemed to be convinced the microphones were his. Only Harry knew it
wasn't true. But to admit it might mean he wouldn't leave Paula's place
alive. He derived no comfort from the knowledge that someone else was
interested in Paula's activities. That wasn't helping him with his
problem of the moment. He could see no clear way out. He had to keep
stalling. And as long as they were so sure of themselves it might even
be to his advantage to maintain a certain arrogance.

"I might as well tell you, Thompson, I have no intention of cooperating
until I know a few facts about you and your friends. Like who you are,
where you're from, what you're after ..."

"It is not necessary, in order to tell us where the recordings are,"
smiled Mr. Thompson, "that you know anything more about us."

"It isn't necessary," said Harry, "but I want to know."

Chase started to voice an objection but Harry broke in.

"And don't tell me you have more persuasive ways of making me talk. You
can use force but it'll take time. Your time is valuable or you wouldn't
have hustled me over here as fast as you did. So let's _not_ waste your
time. You tell me, then I'll tell you."

Thompson glanced at his two compatriots. Their faces registered
dissatisfaction. Their silence said that Harry was right. Time was
valuable. They would follow