Hugh was going home for dinner, and was to return shortly afterward to accompany Bob and his father to the factory. He left the house and Bob started upstairs to prepare himself for the evening meal. On the landing of the stairs he heard some one talking over the telephone and stopped to listen. Of late he had become suspicious of every one and had fallen into the habit of noticing every little thing that happened.
It was the cook's voice and he was doubly interested at once.
"Yes," he heard her say, "this is Lena."
Bob flattened himself against the wall and listened intently.
"What's that?" Lena demanded over the 'phone. "In the hospital, you say!"
There was a pause while the other person talked to her.
"I will try to be there," said Lena. "I also have a message for you, but I don't know whether I should say it now or not; those blamed detectives are on to us."
There ensued another pause while Bob became more and more excited. What was this plot anyway that turned old and trusted servants against their masters? Was no one to be relied upon? Who could be trusted?
"Yes, I will tell Heinrich," said Lena speaking again. "Good-by."
She hung up the receiver and Bob continued up the stairs, whistling and trying to act as if he had heard nothing. He met Lena in the hall and she eyed him narrowly.