“I have warned you all along of the dangers that might come. Now, I fear it will be too late. These racketeers are cunning.
“Your daughter would have been safe in their hands, so long as you kept the abduction to yourself. Now, they can choose no other course. They may have to do away with her.”
“I’ll give up anything,” exclaimed Griscom. “I must have been insane, when I called the police. Maurice Belden has disappeared. There is no way to reach him, now.
“My daughter means everything to me, Mr. Wilberton! I would sign a thousand papers like the one he laid before me, if I had the opportunity now! They could keep her hostage for a year — if I could only know that she was alive — if I could only hear her voice!”
“Perhaps,” said Wilberton quietly, “you may have that opportunity. It may be that Belden will visit you secretly. You might offer him thousands of dollars in advance.
“If your daughter should return suddenly, you could tell the police that it was a mistake. These are possibilities, Griscom.
“I would advise you to return to your home — to remain there — to make it plain the place is not being watched—”
Griscom nodded.
“But, after all” — Wilberton’s voice took on a strange tone — “you may have gone too far. The next few days will tell, Griscom. If you hear nothing then, I am afraid you will never hear anything!”
He studied Griscom closely. The theater owner had his hands on the side of the table. He was pitifully weak. Wilberton seemed apprehensive. Griscom might collapse at any moment.