So distinct were the words that it seemed as if the man were talking to her. In danger of losing his life! And he was! There was no mistaking the conviction in his voice. It was not the broken trembling voice of a coward. It had been firm, strong, even though he was sure he was in grave danger. He must be talking to someone over the phone—there was no audible answer. Why was he in such terrible trouble? What had he done? Was he a criminal or a detective?
Standing statue-like at the girls’ door Jo Ann listened intently for his next words. “I was hot on their trail,” the voice went on, “but had two flats, and that delayed me.... Yes, in the usual place.”
Before she could realize that the conversation had ended, the door opened suddenly, and a tall, stalwart man wearing a broad-brimmed tan felt hat stepped out. On seeing Jo Ann he halted and shot a piercing glance at her from gray eyes so penetratingly keen that she felt as if they were cutting straight through her.
She flushed with embarrassment. It had been unpardonably rude to eavesdrop that way. What must that man think of her? Hurriedly she began knocking on the girls’ door.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw that the man, after hesitating a fraction of a second, had gone on down the hall toward the elevator.
CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERY MAN
After she had knocked several times, Peggy called out sleepily, “Who’s that?”
“Open the door. Hurry!”
“All right—I’ll be there—in a jiffy.”
In a few moments Peggy flung the door open, and Jo Ann stepped inside, her eyes still dilated with excitement.