"Your train leaves Grand Central at midnight," he said. "I've marked it
here. Telephoned a reservation for you. Go get some dinner, take in a show, but
be sure you pull out on the Whirlwind Limited. Get me?"
"I get you," answered Ferret with a grin. "So long, Major. I'll be seeing
you later."
Ferret stepped into a cab and rolled away. He went directly to the Grand
Central Station. There he picked up his railroad and sleeper tickets. He
followed Major's advice about obtaining dinner. But afterward, Ferret went to a
telephone booth and consulted the Manhattan directory.
His first finger ran along one of the front pages of the book. It stopped
at the name of Antrim. Ferret noted the address. He closed the book, and his
eyes gleamed wickedly. He had found his entertainment for that night!
Major was right. There were five of them. The predominant interest of the
five was a common interest. But Ferret - more than any of the others - had an
interest of his own. He did not intend to let it pass. The others would never
know!
There was plenty of time remaining before midnight. A stroll on Broadway
first; then he could take the path he wanted. Leave it to luck. If luck came
his way, he would meet it.
Thus it was that shortly after ten o'clock, Ferret, hands in pocket,
appeared on a street some blocks north of Forty-second Street, sauntering
toward the apartment where Daniel Antrim made his home.
CHAPTER III
FERRET TALKS BUSINESS
BENEATH the light of a street lamp, Ferret stopped and reached into his
inside pocket. He drew forth a crumpled envelope. From this he extracted a
much-creased letter.
The note, as Ferret opened it, revealed a crude scrawl, with a roughly
traced diagram in the center of the page. Ferret's avid eyes swept through the
writing as though they were merely refreshing themselves with knowledge that
was already deeply embedded in the man's memory.
The letter was the work of a man who could spell but crudely. Ferret, a
quick, keen reader, touched important statements with his finger tip, and
smiled cruelly as he read them.
I have bin watching A sins you wised me up about him... I got into
his plac whil he was out one nite... This drawing showes the lay... In
the desk he kips the dop on the gys he is dubbel-crosing... Solly
Bricker... Centter 1592... Keeping mum becuz of what you rote... Phony
key behynd haul raddiater...
HAWK.
The final word formed the signature. Ferret digested every statement in
the letter. He paid particular attention to the diagram, which bore such marks
as "big room," "back door," "raddiater," and "desk."
Then Ferret tore the letter into tiny fragments. He strolled on through
