ctaphone. Ted listened carefully as he was
told how the wires should be laid and connected.

"You see, Ted," Walker continued, "the whole thing is already
prepared. We knew how little time we would have when the time did
come, so we did everything we could beforehand. You will find a place
for these wires on the wall behind the steam-pipes. The floor moulding
running along the window wall will move if you remove the screws--four
of them. Then count off the sixteenth floor board--you work it this
way," Walker showed Ted how, "and it will pry loose. It is all very
simple and should take no more than twenty minutes. It would take me
ten.

"The floor-board has a little groove into which the wires will fit.
You will find that where this board ends is another piece of moulding
which will most surprisingly give way to your magic fingers, and the
screwdriver, as did the moulding at the other end. On the big cabinet
that is there, try that corner of it nearest you and against the wall,
and there you will find that your wires will fit snugly. Your hands
are small and can get in there, back of the cabinet. You just can't go
wrong. On top of the cabinet see that the mouthpiece or, rather, the
listener, is propped up so that it faces the table. If you have any
doubts call out--we will be here. You will also find that it will not
be seen, for the cabinet is high."

"Be careful, Ted, about leaving things just as they were. It all will
fit back snugly. Be twice as careful as you are quick," Strong warned
him.

"I shall be up here, Bronson will be one flight below, and the beggar
is watching in the street. Walker will be up above passing the wires
down to you."

More than fifteen minutes had already been consumed. Strong had warned
Ted to open the window of Room 420 and, should a warning come, hide in
that room. A rope would be passed down for him from the window above.

Ted got to work at once. He found it even more simple than Walker had
told him. In fifteen or twenty minutes he called out. "I think I am
through." He took another look about. He had carefully seen to
everything and there was no sign of any disturbance.

"Wait a minute," said Strong. There was a pause. Then he heard Strong
speaking to him again, "Say something right out, not too loud, just
ordinary conversation."

"Want to buy a paper? News, Post, American, Staats-Zeitung?" said Ted
to the empty air.

There was another pause, then he heard Walker say to Stro