r.
Helene's suggestion about the dust was applicable here, for he found
all the windows coated except the one opening upon the areaway. Below he
observed a stone paving with a cracked surface. It was semidark, but his
electric pocket-light enabled him to observe one piece of the rock which
seemed entirely detached. Shirley investigated the closets of the empty
apartment. In one of them he discovered the object of his search. It
was a knotted rope. He first observed the exact way in which it had been
folded in order to replace it without suspicion being aroused. Then he
took it to the small window of the air shafts hanging it on a hook which
was half concealed behind the ledge. Down this he lowered himself, hand
over hand. The stone was quickly lifted--it was hinged on the under
surface. In the dark hole which was before him there was an iron ladder.
Down he went, into the utter blackness. His outstretched hands apprised
him that he was at the beginning of a walled tunnel, through which
he groped in a half-upright position. He reached an iron door, and
remembering his direction calculated that this must be at the rear
entrance of the old garage on West Fifty-fifth Street. It opened, as he
swung a heavy iron bar, fitted with a curious mechanism resembling the
front of a safe. Softly he entered, carrying his heavy boots in his
hand. All was still within, and he shot the glow ray of his little lamp
about him. As the reader may guess, it was the rear room of Warren's
private spider-web! The table, facing the screen was surmounted by an
ingenious telephone switchboard.

Shirley examined this closely. The various plugs were labelled:
"Rector," "Flatbush," "Jersey City," "Main," "Morningside," and other
names which Shirley recognized as "central" stations of the telephone
company. Here was the partial solution of the mysterious calls. He
determined to test the service!

He took up the telephone receiver and sent the plug into the orifice
under the label, "Co." wondering what that might be. Soon there was an
answer.

"Yes, Chief. What is it?"

"How's everything?" was Shirley's hoarse remark. "I find connections bad
in the Bronx? What's the matter?"

"I'll send one of the outside men up there to see, Chief. There's a new
exchange manager there, and he may be having the wires inspected. But
my tap is on the cable behind the building. I don't see how he could get
wise."

Shirley smiled at this inadvertent betrayal of the sy