"Use the wire," he growled.
The questioner gave a grunt of brutal satisfaction. There in this storeroom lay a huge roll of barbed wire. Coil after coil of this barbed wire was wound about Locke as he struggled, but ever more feebly, for with each coil now the barbs began to cut cruelly into his flesh.
Some one lighted a candle and by its light he saw many carboys of acid standing in a row.
Directly behind them, so that there could be no doubt of the horrible fate in store for him, stood the Automaton.
Already at the entrance to the Black Tom Café Eva's speedy runabout came to a stop. Dora was at the curb to meet her and was all winning smiles.
Instinctively Eva shrank from this overdressed woman. But it had been Locke's desire that she come to this place, and she decided to follow the woman, for would it not lead to the unmasking of Paul, whom she hated?
Once or twice on the descent into the café Eva hesitated, but was gently urged on by Dora.
Eva was utterly disgusted by the flotsam and jetsam in human guise that she found sprawling at the tables, but she decided to brave the place.
"Wait a moment and I'll get Mr. Locke," smiled Dora.
For a moment, the better to blot out the distasteful scene, Eva closed her eyes.