His voice trailed into another laugh. He lifted the receiver from the hook of the telephone on the desk. With his gun elbow on the top of the mouthpiece, Ferret dialed a number with his left hand. Antrim, wild-eyed, was watching, trying to learn the number that Ferret was calling.
"Who— who—" he began, in a stutter.
"I'm calling a fellow who has a lot to learn," declared Ferret. "He'll find it out — now!" His eyes were gleaming with a menace that made Antrim remain unprotesting. A query came over the wire. Ferret spoke.
"That you, Solly?… Good… Listen, I'm giving you a straight lay… Dan Antrim is double-crossing you… Yes, the lawyer. You thought he was O K.? Well, he isn't…
"All right. You know where he lives? Come up, then… Walk right in. The door will be open for you… Yes, you'll find him here, and the dope you want will be lying on his desk…
You'll be just in time to see him get what's due him. I'm going to plug him, but he won't be dead.
I'll leave the second shot for you. Don't forget to grab the stuff you find…"
Ferret was listening shrewdly. He heard an excited oath across the wire. He hung up the telephone.
"Solly is convinced," he said to Antrim, with a grin. "He's coming here. When he gets here it's curtains for you, Dan Antrim."
"I'll make it worthwhile!" gasped the lawyer. "Lay off this! Let me go. I'll pay you—"