“Yes?”
“Long Distance?” He gave the number of the Everdail Maine estate, secured from the open book. “Has that number been called recently? Can you tell me?”
“Just a moment,” came back to him.
The moment became two—three——
“Hello! It has! At ten o’clock. Thank you. Someone has been using our house telephone, then. Goodbye!”
“It was called!” the detective showed a baffled face.
“And by Jeff!” Larry consulted his watch. “The time checks with the report Sandy gave that Jeff was here. He called Mr. Everdail—why?”
“To tell him about the life preserver—and maybe to deliver it!”
“But Dick—he would never take it there if he means to——”
“I begin to think he doesn’t mean to make away with it.”