“Bryant 4802-R.”
This was the Hotel California.
The operator on the switchboard of the hostelry replied.
“Give me Miss Marigold's apartment, please.”
Helene's voice was soon on the wire. Shirley asked for Warren in a gruff tone.
“What do you want?” was that gentleman's musical inquiry, in the tones which were already so familiar to the criminologist.
“Chief, dis is de Rat. I wants to meet you down at de Blue Goose on Water Street in half an hour. Kin you'se come? It's important.”
The other was evidently mystified.
“The Rat? What do you mean? I don't know you. Ring off!”
Shirley heard the other receiver click. He held the wire, reasoning out the method of the intriguer. Soon there was a buzz in his ear, and Warren's voice came to him. It was droll, this reversal of the original method, which had been so puzzling.