"You got my message? Good. I'm glad to see you."
"Where are they?" was Cullis's first question.
"In there." The chief commissioner jerked his thumb at a closed door. "I ran them to earth here, and here I was stuck. They've locked the door on the inside, but they can't get out through the window, because it's barred. They've been working away on the bars, but they haven't been able to get out yet. They can't get out through the door, because I'm waiting for them here. But they're armed themselves, and I didn't feel like committing suicide by trying to force my way in alone."
"But are you alone, sir?."
The commissioner nodded.
"Of course I am," he said testily. "That's how I got stuck. If you can tell me a way for one man to guard an inside door and an outside window at the same time I'll be glad to hear it."
Cullis made a movement towards the door, and the chief reached out and jerked him back.
"I should stay where you are," he said. "They've had one or two pot shots at me through the door as it is, and you mightn't be so lucky."
He pointed to three bullet holes neatly drilled through the woodwork.
"Couldn't you get to the telephone?" asked Cullis.