"I'll promise to remain here until--"
"I come for you in the morning?" he broke in.
"If I'm not abducted in the interval, I'll wait," and stepped into the
car. "Good-night, Mr. Harleston!" she smiled--and the car shot upward.
"Hum!" muttered Harleston as he turned for his coat and hat. "I may be
a fool, but I'll risk it--and I think I'm _not_."
It was but a step to Headquarters and he walked.
"The Superintendent," he said to the sergeant on duty in the outer
office.
"The Chief has gone home, Mr. Harleston," was the answer.
"Home?"
"Yes, sir, two hours ago; he'll not be back tonight."
"Get him on the telephone," Harleston directed.
"Yes, sir, Mr. Harleston.... Here he is, sir--you can use the 'phone in
the private office."
"Hello! Is that you, Ranleigh? Yes, I recognized the voice. Did you
telephone me at the Chateau about six-thirty?... You didn't?... You were
on your way home at that hour.... Yes, exactly; it was a plant.... Do
you know Crenshaw escaped from my apartment.... Yes, I saw him in the
Chateau this evening.... What?... Yes, better look up Whiteside at
once.... Yes, in the Collingwood.... Very good; I'll meet you there....
All right, I'll tell the sergeant."
XII
CARPENTER
Harleston took a taxi to the Collingwood, arriving just as Ranleigh came
up, and the two men went in together.
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