www.freeclassicebooks.com

"Everything's ready," the boss explained to the Lizard. "The whole thing's framed

for to-morrow night. The watchman was discharged to-day. Another man is

supposed to have been hired to take the job, but of course he won't show up. You

meet me here at seven thirty to-morrow night, and I'll give you your final

instructions and tell you how to get to the plant." The C.P.A.'s were slow in

completing their report. At noon on Saturday it looked very much to Bince that

there would be no report ready before Monday. He had spent most of the forenoon

pacing his office, and at last, unable longer to stand the strain, he had

announced that he was going out to his country club for a game of golf.

He returned to his down-town club about dinner-time, and at eight o'clock he

called up Elizabeth Compton.

"Come on up," said the girl. "I'm all alone this evening. Father went back to the

office to examine some reports that were just finished up late this afternoon."

I'll be over," said Bince, "as soon as I dress." If there was any trace of surprise or

shock in his tones the girl failed to notice it.

At ten o'clock that night a figure moved silently through the dark shadows of an

alleyway in the area of the International Machine Company's plant on West

Superior Street. As he moved along he counted the basement windows silently,

and at the fifth window he halted. Just a casual glance he cast up and down the

alley, and then, kneeling, he raised the sash and slipped quietly into the darkness

of the basement.

At about the same time Jimmy's landlady called him to the telephone, where a

man's voice asked if "this was Mr. Torrance?" Assured that such was the fact, the

voice continued: "I am the new watchman at the plant. There's something wrong

here. I can't get hold of Mr. Compton. I think you better come down. I'll be in Mr.

Compton's office--" The message ceased as though central had disconnected

them.

168

The Efficiency Expert