Part 5 (1/2)

The leader turned to Nora.

”You're sure there's some of the stuff in the safe with the formula? The foreigner wouldn't d.i.c.ker without a sample to a.n.a.lyze.”

”I saw the formula and the sacks put in the safe to-night,” she answered.

George shook his head.

”Nora, you're a wonder.”

”No wonder,” she said contemptuously. ”Nothing but hard work. An imbecile could have made friends with the housekeeper, but it took drudgery to get at the old man. I won't waste that. If there's any slip--”

The leader glanced at the gray mask.

”That's up to Simmons now,” he said.

CHAPTER III

IN THE STEEL ROOM

Garth's fingers played with the piece of white paper.

”You haven't told me where the house is,” he said.

The moment the leader had answered Garth was standing on the bench. He waved his arm. Suddenly he blew out the lamp.

”On the dock!” he stammered to the darkness. ”A noise!”

As the others crept to the door he scratched rapidly and silently with a match on the piece of paper the location of the house, the nature of the job, and an appeal for help. When he was through he heard the others coming back.

”If your nerves jump like that, Simmons, what a chance we'll have!”

George said. ”Not a sign. Light up.”

Garth struck the match and relighted the lamp.

”I never take unnecessary risks,” he said simply.

Nora, he knew, would guess that his excess of caution was a police trick. His eyes sought her anxiously as the lamp flamed, but she gave no sign. After a moment she whispered:

”Let's start. It--it frightens me here.”

The leader opened the door.

”It's time,” he said. ”They're asleep in the house by now.”

They followed him, threading obscure s.p.a.ces and alleyways to the unlighted end of a street which deployed into a stone mason's yard, and always Garth asked:

”Will she whisper my life away to the others?”