"What can that mean?"
Harry Vincent looked toward Bruce Duncan.
"It's got me stumped," admitted Duncan. "If the man from Russia had arrived, Chefano — assuming he wrote the note — would have the jewels by this time. The plans would not be working. They would have worked completely."
"Yes," agreed Harry, "it means that something has been going on; that something will continue to go on. We must think in terms of these three men who have disappeared. Can there be a connection between them and you?"
"I never heard of any of them. What did you say their names were?"
"Arthur Hooper, J. Howard Longstreth, Elbridge Meyers. Three men from different cities. One disappeared each Tuesday, beginning exactly a week after you had your experience."
"I never heard their names before." Bruce looked out the window, as if he sought relief there.
Harry Vincent paced across the room. Suddenly he stopped. A look of horror appeared upon his face.
"Duncan!" he exclaimed. "I have it! It is horrible — it is fiendish! Only Isaac Coffran could have planned it!"
"What?"