The laugh that followed this was cut short by Hazeltine's throwing the
door wide open.

Captain Eri, close at the electrician's heels, saw a long room, empty
save for a few chairs and a table in the center. Upon this table stood
the testing instruments, exactly like those in the receiving room
downstairs. Three men lounged in the chairs, and standing beside the
table, with his fingers upon the regulating screw at the centerpiece
of the recorder, was another, a big fellow, with a round, smooth-shaven
face.

The men in the chairs sprang to their feet as Hazeltine came in. The
face of the individual by the table turned white and his fingers fell
from the regulating screw, as though the latter were red hot. The
Captain recognized the men; they were day operators whom he had met in
the village many times. Incidentally, they were avowed friends of the
former electrician, Parker. The name of the taller one was McLoughlin.

No one spoke. Ralph strode quickly to the table, pushed McLoughlin to
one side and stooped over the instruments. When he straightened up,
Captain Eri noticed that his face also was white, but evidently not from
fear. He turned sharply and looked at the four operators, who were doing
their best to appear at ease and not succeeding. The electrician looked
them over, one by one. Then he gave a short laugh.

"You damned sneaks!" he said, and turned again to the testing apparatus.

He began slowly to turn the regulating screw on the recorder. He had
given it but a few revolutions when the point of the little glass