“You’d better admit me.”

“I won’t, all the same.”

“Is Murphy at home?”

“He has left the city.”

“That’s a lie!”

“Perhaps it is.”

“Will you open the door?”

“No.”

Burt threw his shoulders against it. The door did not budge.

“My friend,” said the young man, leveling a revolver at the detective, “try that again, and I’ll come pretty near sending a bullet through your brain!”