"Well, if you ask me, I think it's about time that Farland settled that murder case," Murk said. "If he don't get busy pretty quick, I'll tackle it myself. I've got an idea----" The ringing of the telephone bell cut his sentence off. Sidney Prale was near the instrument, and he answered the call. "Mr. Prale?" asked a man's voice. "Talking." "I just wanted to inform you that you needn't depend on Detective Jim Farland any more. We've got him--and we'll get anybody else you engage. And we'll get you, too, Mr. Prale, before very long. Don't think we'll not!" The man at the other end of the wire hung up his receiver. Prale paced the floor and told Murk of the conversation. "They've got Farland!" Prale exclaimed. "They probably got him last night, decoyed him in some way. Well, Murk, if that is the truth, and I imagine that it is, we'll have to do our sleuthing ourselves." "Suits me!" Murk said. "I'm ready to start out right now and sleuth until it's settled. Let's get in action, boss!" "We are in the same old quandary, Murk. We don't know where to start," Sidney Prale said. "If our foes would come out in the open, instead of fighting from the dark, we might have a chance. This is some city, Murk, and there are several million persons in it and around it. Starting right in such a maze isn't the easiest thing in the world, you know." For the second time that afternoon, Murk was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone bell, and once more Sidney Prale happened to be near and answered the call. "Send them up at once!" Murk heard him say. And then Sidney Prale hung up the receiver and whirled around with a puzzled expression on his face. "Murk," he said, "Miss Kate Gilbert is coming up here with that big maid of hers--coming to see me. What she wants is more than I can guess, remembering what happened the last time I talked with her. It may be good news, Murk!" They waited impatiently for the ring at the door. Murk opened it and ushered them in. He grinned at the gigantic Marie, but she did not return the compliment. There was a serious expression in her face, and Murk looked past her at Kate Gilbert, who was being greeted by Sidney Prale. Something important had happened, Murk told himself immediately. Kate Gilbert did not look frightened exactly or sorrowful or triumphant. There was a peculiar expression about her mouth, and her face seemed pale. "I felt that I had to come, Mr. Prale, and have this talk with you," Kate Gilbert said, when she was seated near the window. "I wanted to speak to you here instead of in some public place, and so I brought Marie and came to your suite." "You are welcome, Miss Gilbert, I am sure," Prale said. "If you wish to speak in private, Marie and Murk can step into the adjoining room." "Please," she said softly. Murk opened the door, and the maid stepped in. Then he followed and closed the door again. Prale sat down near Kate Gilbert and turned toward her. "Now, Miss Gilbert," he prompted.