"The way you act anyone would think that you were on a vacation. Where the hell were you? I've been trying to get you in all the places you should be if you're on the job. I was at the club and just got a flash that something big broke, something in connection with the Tontine group. I've been trying to get you. Where the hell were you?" "Just came from the police station a few minutes ago, chief. What is it?" "How the hell do I know what it is? Who's on the story, you or I? I called up the police, every department, from the cops up. I can't get a word out of 'em. I know something big broke the way they act. They've had orders to shut down tight; that's why I can't get a word. There isn't a man in the office beside myself. There's somebody down in the business office who's taking care of the switchboard. I can't go out because I may miss a call. "Step on it! Scurry around and see what it is. And keep in touch. Call up every few minutes." Jimmy hung up the receiver and stood at the instrument in thought, holding the receiver in its hook as though he would get inspiration from the lifeless instrument. He had learned to have a profound respect for Hite's tips. Hunch or flash, whatever it was, it was undoubtedly something. He started swiftly for the hotel in Lentone, where many of the newspaper representatives congregated. If anyone among them knew of something to justify Hite's excitement, he would show it in some way. There would be a tension, a restlessness that would give the secret away. The first look at the large group of men and women lolling on the wide verandah of the hotel convinced Jimmy that none of these knew of anything big breaking. News sleuths, do not act the way these did with something big. They are up and moving. He went back to the police station. There was nothing new there. He called up Justice Higginbotham's camp and spoke to McGuire. There was nothing there. He called up Professor Brierly. Jack, who answered the phone, assured him that everything was peaceful there also. He called up the office again. This time he was connected directly with the city room. When he identified himself his eardrums were almost shattered by the howl that came over the wire: "Flynn was murdered an hour ago!" Hite yelled. Jimmy's body stiffened as if a live galvanic battery had been applied to it. Flynn, murdered? With guards near by, men who had been warned and ordered--Jimmy, trained as he was to disaster and tragedy in all its forms, somehow could not accept this. He said inanely: "Flynn, murdered? Did you say Flynn, chief? Why he--" "What the hell is the matter with you, are you drunk? Yes," the word came in a hiss. "I said Flynn, William Flynn, the member of your Tontine group we were warned to guard." "But wasn't he guarded?"