"Yes," affirmed the voice. "We're tired of fooling around with you and we want to know something definite."
"What do you wish to know?" inquired Forrester, less harshly.
"We want to know the exact hour at which you will put the money in the tree tomorrow night."
Forrester hesitated. He glanced at Prentice, who was leaning toward him, an interested listener, and reflected whether or not to ask his advice. Forrester's own impulse was to treat the man as he had the first caller. It occurred to him, however, that if this man really did represent the "Friends of the Poor," as he claimed, it would simplify matters for the detectives if a definite hour were arranged. He remembered Cahill's instructions to approach the tree at ten-thirty.
"I had planned to go to the tree about ten-thirty," finally announced Forrester.
"That's all right," said the voice. "Be sure you make it ten-thirty sharp—and no dicks, remember!" The wire suddenly became dead as the man at the other end hung up the receiver. Forrester hung up his own receiver and turned to Prentice.
"What's this about the 'Friends of the Poor'?" exclaimed Prentice.
"That man said he represented the 'Friends of the Poor'," replied Forrester. "He wanted me to give him the exact hour at which I would place the money in the tree."
"That's a strange proceeding," muttered Prentice.
"Strange?" queried Forrester.