"This is Police Headquarters, Mr. Harleston," came the voice over the
wire. "Major Ranleigh wants to know if you will meet him at his office
at ten o'clock tonight. The Major was called out suddenly or he would
have telephoned you, himself!"

"I'll be on hand," Harleston replied, hung up the receiver, and hurried
back.

As he entered the red-room, he shot a covert glance toward the place
where Mrs. Spencer and her companion had been sitting.

They were gone!

"Yes! Yes!" said he under his breath, and turned toward the corner where
he had left Mrs. Clephane.

Mrs. Clephane was gone.




IX

DECOYED


Harleston faced about and surveyed the entire room. Then not content
with surveying, he deliberately walked through it, and satisfied himself
that Mrs. Clephane was not there--nor Madeline Spencer, nor her