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"Funny," thought Jimmy, "that he should call me up. I wonder what the trouble

can be." But he lost no time in getting his hat and starting for the works.

Although the Lizard knew that there was no danger of detection, yet from long

habit he moved through the plant of the International Machine Company with the

noiselessness of a disembodied spirit. Occasionally, and just for the briefest

instant, he flashed his lamp ahead of him, but though he had never been in the

place before he found it scarcely necessary, so minute had been his instructions

for reaching the office from the fifth basement window.

The room he sought was on the second floor, and the Lizard had mounted the

steps from the basement to the first floor when he was brought to a sudden stop

by a noise from the floor above him. The Lizard listened intently. No, he could not

be mistaken. Too often had he heard a similar sound.

Some one was tiptoeing across the floor above. The Lizard was in the hallway

close beside the stairs when he realized the footsteps were coming toward the

stairway, and a moment later that they were cautiously descending. The Lizard

flattened himself against the wall, and if he breathed his lungs gave forth no

sound.

If one may interpret footsteps--and the Lizard, from the fund of a great

experience, felt that he could--those descending the stairway from above him

might have been described as nervous and repressed; for at least they gave the

Lizard the impression of one who desired to flee in haste and yet dared not do so,

for fear of attracting attention by the increased noise that greater speed might

entail.

At least the Lizard knew that those were the footsteps of no watchman, but

whether it be guardian of the law or fellow criminal the Lizard had no wish to be

169

The Efficiency Expert