... Yes.... All right!"
Meighan hung up the receiver, sat down in a chair, and motioned toward
another that was close alongside the desk.
"Turn out the light, Mr. Kenleigh," he said abruptly; "and sit
down here."
Kenleigh looked his amazement.
"Turn out the light?" he repeated perplexedly.
"Yes," Meighan nodded. "And at once, please."
Obeying mechanically, Kenleigh moved toward the electric-light switch.
There was a faint click, and the apartment was in darkness. Came then
the sound of Kenleigh making his way back across the room, and settling
himself in the chair beside the detective.
"I--I don't quite see," said Kenleigh, a little nervously. "I--"
"You will in a minute," interrupted Meighan, in a low voice. "Don't make
any noise now, and don't speak much above a whisper. That little glass
stick pin is worth twenty years to the Magpie. See? When he finds that
he has lost it, he'll take any risk to make sure that he didn't lose it
_here_. Get the idea? It would plant him for keeps, and nobody knows it
any better than he does."
"You mean he'll come back here?" whispered Kenleigh eagerly.
Meighan chuckled.
"Sure, he'll come back here--if he isn't nabbed beforehand! It's the
only chance he's got.
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