It was now half past seven. He lifted the dictaphone oftener. Very soon he heard voices, very indistinct, but as he listened they became clearer and clearer. Then he began making out the words and the sense of the conversation.
“Yes,” said one voice. “We found out that this man Jones, who was Winckel’s butler, was one of their men. He dropped a card which young Winckel found. That was enough to warrant his being watched, although we did nothing for several days except to see that he got no further information.
“Today, at the point of a gun, we forced him to write a note to Strong telling him that there was to be a meeting at Winckel’s house at four-thirty and that he could get him in. Strong with another man came. We trapped them, bound them and they are now in the cellar out of harm’s way.” 66
Ted welcomed the information. At least he knew just what to expect.
“It’s almost time for our friends to be here, isn’t it? What time is Captain Knabe coming?” said a voice.
“At about fifteen minutes after eight. He is coming with Winckel.”
“Say, Schmidt, it was a good piece of business to get Strong out of the way. He is too dangerous and resourceful to suit us.” This from O’Reilly.
“He has been a nuisance, hasn’t he?” answered Schmidt. “Hello, friends,” he said to some new-comers. “I have just been telling O’Reilly about our little affair this afternoon.”
There was the sound of a number of voices and of some laughing. Then more men came into the room, there was the scraping of chairs as men seated themselves.
Then there was quiet as two men entered. Greetings were exchanged and Ted realized that the two were Winckel and Captain Knabe.