“Yes, sir.”

“My line––Belmont 2748––is out of order. Can you send an inspector up at once?”

“I’ll see, sir.”

In a minute the reply came.

“Yes, we can send a man right up.”

“One thing more––from where does the inspector start? The house is closed, but I’ll send my man along to go up with him.”

There was a wait of a few minutes. Wilson almost held his breath. Then came the answer:

“The inspector leaves from the central office. Have your man ask for Mr. Riley.”

“In twenty minutes?”

“Yes, sir.”