“This is Police Headquarters, Mr. Harleston,” came the voice over the wire. “Major Ranleigh wants to know if you will meet him at his office at ten o’clock tonight. The Major was called out suddenly or he would have telephoned you, himself!”
“I’ll be on hand,” Harleston replied, hung up the receiver, and hurried back.
As he entered the red-room, he shot a covert glance toward the place where Mrs. Spencer and her companion had been sitting.
They were gone!
“Yes! Yes!” said he under his breath, and turned toward the corner where he had left Mrs. Clephane.
Mrs. Clephane was gone.
IX—Decoyed
Harleston faced about and surveyed the entire room. Then not content with surveying, he deliberately walked through it, and satisfied himself that Mrs. Clephane was not there—nor Madeline Spencer, nor her bald-headed companion.
He took a turn up and down the corridor, and up and down again. They were not there.
He even walked through the dining-rooms.