" were about to happen.

A hard-faced clerk with the shoulders of a prizefighter, was waiting to
receive the hurried approach of his client.

These men were always alert and ready at the first sign.

The bearded man's demand came sharply back across the room.

"Guess I need to 'phone--quick!" he said. "I'll take No. 1."

The face of the clerk remained expressionless, but the tone of his reply
had doubt in it.

"No. 1?" he said.

"That's how I said."

"It'll cost you a hundred dollars."

"You needn't hand me the tariff," returned the bearded man with a laugh
that jarred. "Here's the stuff. Only open it--quick."

The onlooker saw the applicant dive a hand into his hip pocket and draw
out a roll of money. He heard the crumple of paper as he counted out a
number of bills. Then, in a moment, his whole attention was diverted to
the entrance door of the room. The swing door was thrust open and two
men pushed their way in.

The man who came first was of medium height and square build. He had a
disarming, florid face, and the bland, good-natured expression of a
genial farmer. The other glanced swiftly over the room. He was the
shorter of the two, and his clean shaven face and his undistinctive
tweed clothing would have left him quite unremarkable but for his air of
definite decision and purpose.

The first man the Englishman recognized as Saney, head of the Criminal
Investigation Department of the province. The other was a stranger.

From the newcomers, the onlooker's attention was suddenly distracted by
the slamming of a heavy door. It was the door of a telephone box, and he
knew it was the door of "No. 1," the use of which had cost his friend
one hundred dollars. He looked for the man with the beard. He had gone.

Saney's inspection of the room was rapid, and every individual
foregathered came under his eye. Then he stepped up to the counter and
spoke to the clerk.

His voice did not carry to the rest of the room, but the clerk's swift
reply was plainly audible.

"I haven't had a sight of him, if that's what he's like," he said,
handing back a photograph. "Still, the place is here for you to go
through if you fancy that way. You know that, Mr. Saney. It's open to
you the whole time."

The officer's reply was inaudible. But the voice of the stranger came
sharply.

"Guess we'll just have a look at the fellow that passed into that 'phone
box as we came in," he said.

Again came the clerk's reply.

"Ther