call came. We might get that whispering devil right away."

"I believe it was the trouble-man," said Loris, as Drew returned after
locking the door to the hallway. "Now that I think of it--I'm almost
sure it was. He just tried to change and lower his voice--that was
all."

"Lower it?"

"Yes, Mr. Drew. It was so faint that I hardly heard it at first. He
seemed afraid of something. Perhaps somebody was in the room where he
was telephoning."

"That might have been. Well--he can't hurt or harm you that way. The
thing is for you to keep up your courage. Fear is a terrible thing if
you would let yourself be mastered by it. It might be their game to
break you down by a series of threats."

"I won't do that. I've Harry and you to stand by me!"

Drew pulled out his watch. "It's getting toward midnight," he said. "No
word yet from Delaney or any of the others on watch. I think that the
storm will clear soon. You can go to bed. Harry--Mr. Nichols and I'll
get a deck of cards and keep watch out here. We'll do sentry duty. He's
used to that!"

Loris glided about the room. She stopped at the cheval glass and
arranged her hair with a series of twists that formed a turban secured
by loops. She swished around and glanced archly toward Drew. Their eyes
met bravely. Hers dropped under shading lashes.

"I'm all right," she whispered with a half laugh. "I did look awful. It
was the shock of hearing that terrible man. How childish to call me up
and say what he did. He didn't mean it!"

"Ah," said Drew, reaching in his pocket and bringing out a key. "Ah, he
did mean it, I think. He has overreached himself by telephoning.
Gramercy Hill Exchange is on the alert. There's Mr. Nichols with good
news, at the door. Now for his report."

The captain came in, brushing snow from his olive-drab uniform. He
glanced at Loris as he strode across the room and took her hand with a
firm grip. "Delaney," he said confidentially, "was right at the booth.
He was sitting on a chair, propped up and talking with the prescription
clerk. He did the telephoning to Gramercy Hill. I don't know who he got
there, but they already knew about the call."

Nichols turned toward Drew for confirmation.

"That's right!" the detective exclaimed. "They should know! The
vice-president, Westlake, has left orders to record all calls to this
house. Where was that whispering voice from, Mr. Nichols?"

"From Forty-second Street and Broadway."

"Close!" exclaimed Drew, r