ignaled to Harrigan by drawing a
handkerchief. That operative detached himself from the shadow between
the two houses and moved toward the corner. He stood there on guard as
Drew hurried through the iron-grilled gates and thrust his knee against
the door. It opened. Delaney and the butler crowded in. They mounted
the inner stairs on tiptoes. Drew's hand went behind him in warning. He
turned at the top of the landing. The second-man was standing before
the library door with folded arms and a watchdog expression on his
cockney face. He remained in that position as Drew glided to his side.

"Hear anything?" asked the detective.

"Never a word, sir. Hit's blym quiet hin there. Hi think 'e's 'ad
something 'appen, sir. 'E never acted like that--before, sir. Sometimes
'e sleeps, but 'e always wakes hup when the walley comes after 'im,
sir."

"'E does," echoed the butler with chattering teeth.

"Are you sure you tried to unlock this door?" queried Drew, twisting
the knob. "Have you tried the outer lock? You might have shot the bolt
in your excitement."

"The key to the houter lock, sir, is hinside!"

"It is!" snapped Drew, pressing against the panel as he listened close
up to the chamfering. "It is, eh? That's funny."

"'E put hit there, sir. The master did, sir!"

Drew did not dwell further on this. He stared at Delaney, with unseeing
eyes. He bent and listened for a second time. He stiffened suddenly. He
jerked back.

"Listen," he whispered tersely. "Everybody listen. What's that noise
inside? Hear it? Hear it, Delaney?"

The operative dropped to his knees and pressed his ear to a faint line
of light below the door. He rose, dusting his knees. He swore audibly.

"What is it?" asked Drew.

"Sounds like the crow, Chief."

"Stockbridge's magpie?"

"Something like that."

The Detective laid his ear flat against the key-hole. His face hardened
as he waited. He lifted his head and pointed with a steady finger.
"Listen!" he commanded. "There--listen. That's no magpie!"

_A low whine like the howl of a wild thing rose to a reed note of
moribund terror. It died; then resumed its shrieking. It leaped the
octaves from no note to a blare of a soul in agony. Suddenly it struck
down the tone scale with descending steps of mocking laughter._

"Look out!" shouted Drew, bending his knees and gliding back to the
wall of the hallway. "Look out!" he repeated.

"What are you goin' to do?" asked Delaney huskily.

"Do? I'm