nd
to the drug-store?"

Loris rested her weight on one elbow. She sat erect, with slowly
widening eyes. Her hands strayed to her hair and pressed it back from
her ears. She gained command of herself after a shudder had passed
through her slender body. She half rose.

"I've heard that voice before!" she exclaimed, pointing toward the
'phone. "It was familiar, Mr. Drew. Now where have I heard it?"

"Some friend of your father's?"

"No, I don't think it was. But I've heard it in this house."

"A servant--the valet?"

"No! No, Mr. Drew, it wasn't the valet's voice. It was whispering and
consumptive. It squeaked. It sounded like a little boy's voice."

"How about that trouble-man?" Drew advanced with keen steps. He felt
that he was very close to the truth.

"It might have been. Only--only, Mr. Drew, it was
younger--thinner--squeakier. It was a terrible voice. It rings and
rings in my ears. It was so sure!"

"Ump!" declared Drew with clenched fists. "It won't be so sure," he
said, squaring his jaw. "It won't be near so sure, next time. I think
it was that trouble-man you heard. Don't you remember anything he said
when he was in the house, for comparison?"

"I just heard him say--I heard him say that the connections, I think he
called them, were all right. Then he went away, Mr. Drew."

"Did his voice squeak then?"

"It was rather low--like a boy's or a girl's. He seemed too polite. He
had his cap in his hand." Loris stopped speaking and stood erect. She
arranged her gown and glanced down at Nichols. "I feel stronger," she
said bravely. "I wonder what became of that tea?"

Drew stepped into the writing-room and found the tea-pot upon its side.
He poured from this a cup of tea which he carried to Nichols. "Just
taste it," he ordered. "I want to be sure it isn't doped or anything
like that. That's it. Just a small swallow. It's all right, isn't it?
It isn't bitter?"

Nichols handed the cup to Loris. "Drink it," he said with confidence.
"That's good tea--only a little cold."

Drew took the empty cup and set it down on a small table. "You'll go
for me?" he asked Nichols. "I want it traced without using the wires of
this house. They might be tapped."

"Be back in ten minutes!" said the captain at the tapestries, after
Loris had nodded. "Whom shall I ask for at Gramercy Hill?"

"The superintendent--Jack Nefe! If he isn't there, get the chief
operator. Delaney will attend to that. Find out from what number the