“Hello,” came the gruff reply. “Same old gag tonight? Stay up and watch?”
“Not tonight,” was the reply. “You and Briggs have a job. A big one. We’ve been waiting for you. Both of you go down to see the Chief, right away.”
Big Briggs was putting on his hat and coat.
“The Chief will tell you everything,” declared Bob. “Get going and do the job right!”
WHEN the men were gone, Bob sat alone, smiling. There was a piece of paper on the desk. Upon it, he drew certain marks, then rubbed them out. He wrote the letter S twice; then erased the letters.
He picked up the telephone book and looked under H. He came to the name Richard Harkness. He repeated the number to himself and closed the book. He glanced at his watch.
“Ten o’clock,” he said softly. “That will be just right — unless I hear to the contrary before that. It looks good tonight.
“Smart of the Chief, figuring that code meant a name. Very, very smart. I didn’t figure it.
“The whole thing fits in with what we’re after. That’s the best part of it. If Harkness doesn’t know — well—”
He paused speculatively. He was remembering a conversation that he had held earlier in the day. This was the first guess tonight — and it appeared to be the best one.