rface of the thin film of water in the
glass. Craig smiled quietly to himself and flicked the water into the
sink, returning the crystal to his watch.

I did not understand just what it was that Craig was after, but I felt
sure that there was some kind of vibration that he had discovered.

Meanwhile, we could hear Creighton telephoning and I noticed that Miss
Laidlaw was alertly listening, too.

"Why, no," I heard him answer monosyllabically but in a tone that was
carefully modulated, "not alone. Let me call you up--soon."

The conversation ended almost as abruptly as it had begun. Somehow, it
seemed evident to me that Creighton had been talking to a woman. Though
he apparently had not wanted to say anything before us, he could not
disguise the fact. From his quick, nervous manner with us, I had
concluded that no mere man could have commanded so deferential a tone
from him.

A moment later he rejoined us, resuming his praises of his motor. By
this time I had come to recognize that he was a master in the
manipulation of fantastic terms, which I, at least, did not understand.
Therein, perhaps, lay their potency, though I doubt whether Kennedy
himself knew what Creighton meant when he talked of "polar sympathy,"
"inter-atomic ether," "molecular disintegration," and "orbitic chaos."

I saw that Adele Laidlaw was watching Creighton narrowly now. Was it on
account of the telephone call? Who had it been? Perhaps, it occurred to
me, it was Mrs. Barry. Was Creighton afraid of arousing the jealousy of
Adele Laidlaw?

There seemed to be nothing more of importance that Craig could learn at
present and we soon bade Creighton good-by, leaving with Miss Laidlaw. I
noticed that he locked the door after us as we went out.

"I'd like to meet this Mrs. Barry," remarked Craig as we passed out of
the building.

He said it evidently to see just how Miss Laidlaw would take it. "I
think I can arrange that," replied Adele Laidlaw colorlessly. "I'll ask
her to visit me this afternoon. You can call casually."

We accompanied her to her car, promising to report as soon as possible
if we discovered anything new.

"I'm going in to call on Tresham," remarked Craig, turning into the Bank
Building.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE ELECTROLYSIS CLEW

As Kennedy walked through the corridor of the building, he paused and
bent down, as though examining the wall. I looked, too. There was a
crack in the concrete, in the side wall toward the Creig