"I've got a buzzer under one of the treads of the stairs," said the colonel. "It is useful to know when people are coming up."
* * * * *
Ten minutes passed and Selby returned to say that the policeman had been making inquiries as to whom the car belonged.
"You'd better get it away," said the colonel, "and send away your men."
"They've gone," said the other. "I wasn't taking any risks."
He disappeared to carry out the colonel's instructions, and they heard the whine of the moving car.
Boundary unlocked his tantalus and took out a full decanter of whisky. Without a word he poured three stiff doses into as many glasses and filled them with soda. Each man was thinking, and thinking after his own interests.
"Well, gentlemen," said the colonel at last. "I incline to give this business best."
He looked up and saw the dagger which Pinto had thrown. It was still embedded in the wall.
"It isn't enough that I should have Jack o' Judgment messing my room about," he growled, "but you must do something to the same wall! Pull it out and don't let me see it again, Pinto."