“Oh, that’s all right, Bob. I wonder when we’ll be working on a case again?” “That’s hard to say,” grinned Bob. “Hope it will be soon.” With that he turned and entered the building while Lieutenant Gibbons resumed his journey. Bob took an elevator to the top floor where the head of the bureau of investigation had his offices. A clerk in the anteroom took his name and looked up sharply as he consulted an appointment chart on his desk. “I think Mr. Edgar is expecting you,” he said, “for your name is on his call list this morning.” Bob looked eagerly at the clerk. “Does this mean I’m going to be assigned to a case?” he asked. “I can’t say,” replied the clerk, “but I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ll send in your name at once. Just have a seat and wait for a few minutes.” Bob was the only one in the anteroom and he sat down on a padded bench beside the clerk’s desk, with a growing feeling that within a few minutes he would be called in and assigned on his first case as a full time federal agent. Chapter II A NEW CASE ★ Bob had been waiting in the anteroom less than five minutes when the door banged open and Tully Ross almost catapulted into the room. Tully was about the last person in the world that Bob wanted to see just then but he grinned and made the best of it. “Hello, Tully. What’s all the hurry?” he asked. Tully stopped abruptly and stared at Bob. There was no friendliness in the glance that swept Bob from head to foot. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” he blurted out. “That goes for me, too,” replied Bob. “That was quite a story you gave the reporters last night.” A deep flush swept over Tully’s face but he was quick to deny the implications in Bob’s words. “What story do you mean?” he asked sharply. “I guess you know what I mean,” said Bob evenly. “I thought it was a rule of this department not to give out news stories.” “You’re on the wrong track,” Tully insisted; but Bob knew by the expression on Tully’s face that Tully had given out the news story, thereby violating one of the rules of the department. Tully sat down on a bench on the other side of the room facing Bob. He was silent for less than a minute for he could not check his curiosity. “Have you been assigned to a case yet?” he asked. There was an envious note in his voice. “Not yet, but I expect to get an assignment soon,” said Bob. “Have you a new assignment?” “I’m expecting one this morning,” replied Tully confidently. “In fact, that’s why I’m here.” The clerk in charge of the room returned and asked Tully’s name and business. “Mr. Edgar will be ready to see both of you in a minute or two,” the clerk advised them. A buzzer on the clerk’s desk whirred and the official stepped to the door, opened it and motioned for Bob and Tully to enter the private office.