“Let me have your full name.”
“I’m sorry. That’s impossible.”
Mason said irritably, “It only costs ten cents to put through a telephone call and talk big money. Before I go to the office I want to know with whom I’m dealing.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the voice said, “This is John L. Cragmore.”
“Where do you live?”
“5619 Union Drive.”
Mason said, “Okay. It’ll take me twenty minutes to get there. Can you be there by that time?”
“Yes,” the man said, and added courteously, “Thank you for coming, Mr. Mason,” and hung up the telephone.
Mason scrambled out of bed, closed the windows, and picked up the telephone directory. There was no Cragmore listed at the address given on Union Drive.
Mason dialed the number of the Drake Detective Agency. A night operative said in a bored monotone, “Drake Detective Agency.”