Verbeck waited, his heart pounding at his ribs. If Muggs only had the presence of mind, if he——
"Hello, boss!" came Muggs' voice over the wire.
"Hello, Muggs."
"I'm sure here in this big crook's headquarters, boss. I don't know what he intends to hand me, but it'll be plenty."
"Muggs, what do you want me to do?" Verbeck asked.
"Well, maybe I'm prejudiced," Muggs said, "but I don't care to be knocked on the head and thrown in any river. It wouldn't be a hard job for them—the river ain't far away!" That was a hint, at least. "And it ain't exactly nice to be croaked with music ringin' in your ears——"
Verbeck heard an exclamation of rage, the sound of a blow, a gasp, and then nothing more except a little click that told him the wire was dead. Muggs had tried to give a tip, and had not been given a chance to complete it.