He waited with a slim hand stretched across the table, while
Adolph plunged a hand into an inside pocket with a grin, felt in
another concealed pocket, and returned to the first with his face
growing grave and pale.

The Wolf watched him with steely eyes, suspicion dawning in them.

"Too slow; too slow, Adolph!" he smiled.

Adolph looked up. "It is not here! It is gone! Some one has
stolen it!" he stammered.

The Wolf snarled. "Oh, no, good Adolph!" he said silkily. "Look
again."

Adolph, with fingers that shook, turned his pockets out one by
one, then looked into the Wolf's yellow eyes with a gaze pleading
yet sullen. "They are gone," he said huskily.

With a flashing motion the Wolf reached across the table and
clutched Adolph by the throat. In a steel grip that he struggled
hopelessly to loosen he was helpless as a child. Brutally the
Wolf bore him back to the wall, where he beat his head savagely
against the door frame. A look of savage glee shone on the
Wolf's smooth countenance.

Ledermann leaped across the floor and seized the Wolf's arm.

"Off!" cried the murderer, and with his hand dealt Ledermann a