"It is perplexing," said Craig, with the air of one who was not a
bit perplexed, but rather enlightened.

He pulled down the district telegraph messenger lever three
times, and we sat in silence for a while.

"However," he resumed, "I shall be ready for them to-night."

I said nothing. Several minutes elapsed. Then the messenger
rapped on the door.

"I want these two notes delivered right away," said Craig to the
boy; "here's a quarter for you. Now mind you don't get interested
in a detective story and forget the notes. If you are back here
quickly with the receipts I'll give you another quarter. Now
scurry along."

Then, after the boy had gone, he said casually to me: "Two notes
to Close and Gregory, asking them to be present with their
attorneys to-night. Close will bring Lawrence, and Gregory will
bring a young lawyer named Asche, a very clever fellow. The notes
are so worded that they can hardly refuse the invitation."

Meanwhile I carried out an assignment for the Star, and
telephoned my story in so as to be sure of being with Craig at
the crucial moment. For I was thoroughly curious about his next
move in the game. I found him still in his laboratory attaching
two coils of thin wire to the connections on the outside of a
queer-looking little black box.