ty in tipping it over
and letting its contents spill on the floor. A soft exclamation escaped
him as three little pellets rolled past him, and then came the bottom of
a box.

With hasty fingers Kent picked them up, placed them in the box, and
fitted on the top, first carefully smoothing over the hole made by his
cane when thrust into the umbrella stand by the footman. Replacing the
stand he wrapped the box containing the pills in his handkerchief and
hurried from the house.

Kent found the operative from Detective Headquarters sitting on duty in
Rochester's living room when he entered that apartment a quarter of an
hour later.

"Any one called here?" he asked, as the man, whom he had met the night
before, greeted him.

"Not a soul, Mr. Kent." Nelson suppressed a yawn; his relief was late in
coming, and he had had little sleep the night before. "There's been no
disturbance of any kind, not even a ring at the telephone."

Kent considered a moment, then sat down by the telephone and gave a
number to Central.

"That you, Sylvester?" he called into the mouth-piece. "If Mrs. Brewster
comes to the office, telephone me at Mr. Rochester's apartment, Franklin
52. Don't let Mrs. Brewster leave until I have seen her."

"Yes, sir," came the reply, and Kent hung up the receiver.

"Had any luncheon?" he asked Nelson as the man loitered around.

"Not yet"--Nelson's eyes brightened at the word. It was long past his
usual meal hour.

"Run down to the caf on the first floor and tell the head waiter to give
you a square meal and charge it to me," Kent directed. "Order something
substantial; you must be used up."

The man hung back. "Thank you, Mr. Kent, but I don't like to leave here
until my relief comes," he objected.

"That's all right, I'll stay in the apartment until you return," and
Kent settled the question by opening the door leading into the outer
corridor. "Ferguson will be around shortly, so hurry."

Kent watched the man scurry toward the elevator shaft, then returned
to Rochester's apartment and once more took up the telephone. The
operative's reluctance to leave the apartment unguarded had altered his
plans somewhat.

"Is this Dr. Stone's office?" he asked a moment later, as a faint
"hello," came over the wire. "Oh, doctor, this is Kent. Please come over
to Rochester's apartment; I would like to consult you in regard to an
important matter. You'll come now? Thanks."

The doctor kept Kent waiting less than f