The Egyptian cat
wasn't worth his life, no matter what it contained. He opened the door
and took the cat out. Then he turned slowly and held it out to Moustafa.

"You're being wise," Moustafa said. His eyes gleamed. He reached for the
cat. Rick handed it to him.

"Drop!" a voice yelled. Rick and Scotty dove to the floor on the
instant. Moustafa whirled, gun lifted to shoot, and saw no one.

"The building is surrounded by police officers," the voice said. "Just
drop your gun." The voice came from outside the doorway, and it belonged
to Ismail ben Adhem.

Moustafa yelled desperately, "Don't try anything, or I shoot the
Americans!" He faced the empty doorway, ready.

Ben's voice said, "If you will turn slowly, you will see a shotgun
barrel pointed at you through the window. If you turn rapidly, it fires.
And, as you turn, another shotgun will come through the doorway to cover
you. You're all done, Kemel. Better drop it. I want you alive."

Third Brother turned, slowly and carefully. Rick looked up and saw the
shotgun barrel, as Ben had promised. He saw Ben step through the
doorway, a riot gun in his hands.

Moustafa's Luger dropped to the floor.

CHAPTER XIX

The Cat's Secret

The tape machines ran unnoticed, except for an occasional glance from
Rick and Scotty. All through the fight the signals had continued, with
no one paying any attention. Rick hoped that if they came from
intelligent beings, they were of a kind that didn't get involved in gang
fights.

Next to him, bandages around one thigh, Youssef sat, his hands
handcuffed together in his lap. Moustafa, unharmed but helpless, was
handcuffed in another chair. From outside, the wail of ambulances
announced that the wounded were being carried off, the police driver
among them. He had been knocked out by a chest shot, but Ben assured the
boys there were superb surgeons in Cairo who would take good care of
him.

The inspector sat on a chair facing the others, the Egyptian cat in his
hand.

"Now that things are quiet again," he said, "I think we might talk a
little. I promised our two American guests that they would find out the
secret of this little beast, and now is as good a time as any."

"I can get a saw to open it with," Rick offered eagerly.

Ben grinned. "Patience, Rick. First we must paint a background, so that
we may see the whole picture. Where shall we begin? With Moustafa?"

Kemel Moustafa maintained a sullen silence.

"No co-o