e's no one in them boxes, Mister. I haven't sold a call in haf an
hour," he said with a smile that lent no softening to his watchful eyes.
He stooped and released a series of levers. "Get a peek for yourselves,
gents."

Each door was set ajar and the stranger moved swiftly across and flung
them wide open in rapid succession. The boxes were empty. At "No. 1" he
paused considering. Then he passed within. And, for a few moments, stood
examining the instrument, which was no different from any other 'phone
in any other hotel in the city.

After the examination the two men passed out of the room and the
Englishman watched the smiling contempt that promptly lit the eyes of
the clerk as he looked after them.

Outside on the landing Saney led the way. Nor did the two men speak
until they had passed down the stairs and out into the street.

"Well?"

Saney spoke with an ironical smile lighting his genial eyes.

"You'll search the place?" the other suggested.

Saney shrugged.

"If you feel that way. But it's useless," he said. "I said that to you
before. You've tracked this feller to this city. You've tracked him to
Mallard's. It's taken you nearly two years. We've all been out after
him, and failed. You've succeeded in hunting him down to Mallard's.
Well, I'd say your work's only just started. Maybe he's there right now.
If we searched with a hundred men we couldn't exhaust that darn gopher
nest. If we blocked every outlet we know and don't know, he could still
sit tight and laff at us. No. We need to start right in again. So long
as he's got the stuff, and hangs to Mallard's, he's safe."

"You might have those 'phone boxes torn down. I saw a feller go into one
of them as we came in. I'd swear to that."

Saney nodded.

"So would I. A feller did go in. Maybe it was some guy that didn't fancy
seeing me. Maybe it was your man. It wouldn't help us tearing out those
boxes. We know them. 'No. 1' is a clear way out of that room. Guess the
whole back of it opens into some darn passage, which you could easily
reach from anywhere outside that room. That's the trick of the place.
Short of pulling the place down you can't do a thing that 'ud help. It's
honeycombed with concealed doors, that in themselves don't mean a thing
but a 'get out' of any old room. It's the whole place that's the riddle.
Meanwhile it's a gravitating spot for crooks, and so has its uses--for
us."

* * * * *

The room was s