istened to such nonsense in my life," he gravely assured it.

Shaw nodded.

"It does seem a little melodramatic," he conceded. "I tried to think of
something better, something less brusque, as it were. But the time was
so short; I really had no choice."

"What do you mean by that?" Laurie had again turned to face him.

"Exactly what I say. Think it over. Then let me have your decision."

Laurie moved closer to him.

"Get up," he commanded.

Shaw looked surprised.

"I am very comfortable here."

"_Get up!_" The words came out between the young man's clenched teeth.

Shaw again shrugged deprecating shoulders. Then, with another of his
wide, sharp-toothed grins, he rose and faced his visitor. At the desk
across the room the big blond secretary rose, also, and fixed his pale
blue eyes on his employer.

"Now," said Laurie, "tell me what the devil you are driving at, and what
all this mystery means."

"What an impulsive, high-strung chap you are!" Shaw was still grinning
his wide grin.

"You won't tell me?"

"Of course I won't! I've told you enough now to satisfy any reasonable
person. Besides, you said you had something to say to me."

He was deliberately goading the younger man, and Laurie saw it. He saw,
too, over Shaw's shoulder, the tense, waiting figure of the secretary.
He advanced another step.

"Yes," he said, "I've got three things to say to you. One is that you're
a contemptible, low-lived, blackmailing hound. The second is that before
I get through with you I'm going to choke the truth out of your fat
throat. And the third is that I'll see you in hell before I give you any
such promise as you ask. Now, I'm going."

He walked over to the couch and picked up his hat and coat. The
secretary unostentatiously insinuated himself into the center of the
room. Shaw alone remained immovable and unmoved. Even as Laurie turned
with the garments in his hands, Shaw smiled his wide smile and encircled
the room with a sweeping gesture of one arm.

"Go, then, by all means, my young friend," he cried jovially, "but
_how_?"

Laurie's eyes followed the gesture. He had already observed the absence
of windows. Now, for the first time, with a sudden intake of breath, he
discovered a second lack. Seemingly, there was no exit from the room. Of
course there was a door somewhere, but it was cleverly concealed,
perhaps behind some revolving piece of furniture; or possibly it was
opened by a hidden spring. Wherever it