Floyd emerged in a moment and walked rapidly to a drug store on an opposite corner, proceeding directly to a telephone booth in the rear of the store, quickly entering and tightly closing the door.
Nick already was at the open door of the store. He saw that the booth stood in an angle formed by two of the counters. He saw, too, that there then were no customers and only one clerk in the store, just then engaged in wiping one of the show cases.
Nick stepped in and instantly caught the clerk’s eye, though one of his own was constantly fixed upon the back of Floyd’s head, visible through the window in the door of the booth. Floyd then was hurriedly looking up a number in the telephone-exchange book.
Nick cautioned the clerk with a significant glance and by holding up his forefinger. He then turned the lapel of his vest and displayed his detective’s badge.
The clerk appeared to grasp the situation. He nodded and continued his work.
Nick stepped back of the opposite counter, quickly crouching out of sight behind it. He then crept to the rear of the store and within half a minute he was directly opposite one side of the telephone booth.
On hands and knees under the counter, he placed one ear against the side of the booth—and he then could faintly hear the voice of the man within.
The following broken remarks reached his ears, broken by the occasional responses from the person with whom Floyd was talking, whom the detective of course could not hear:
“There is no question about it,” Floyd was forcibly saying. “I know positively that he is on the case.... Yes, yes, of course! But we can prevent that and bluff him to a standstill. He cannot prove that you know anything about her.... That’s true, but I’ve got the goods and will show up shortly. The best way, then, will be to phone directly to his office and state where she can be found. That probably would end the matter, and there will be no way of telling from whom the information came. He could only guess at that.... The sooner the better, of course. I have hastened to notify you only to put you on your guard in case he shows up there again before I arrive. Stave him off in some way until I come. It then will be soft walking. I’ll come at once. So long!”
Nick heard the sharp click of the hook when the receiver was replaced.