CHAPTER XXIII

Fischer, exactly one week after his nocturnal visit to Fourteenth Street, hurried out of the train at the Pennsylvania Station, almost tore the newspapers from the news stand, glanced through them one by one and threw them back. The attendant, open-mouthed, ventured upon a mild protest. Fischer threw him a dollar bill, caught up his handbag, and made for the entrance. He was the first passenger from the Washington Limited to reach the street and spring into a taxi.

"The Plaza Hotel," he ordered. "Get along."

They arrived at the Plaza in less than ten minutes. Mr. Fischer tipped the driver lavishly, suffered the hall porter to take his bag, returned his greeting mechanically, and walked with swift haste to the tape machine. He held up the strips with shaking fingers, dropped them again, hurried to the lift, and entered his rooms. Nikasti was in the sitting-room, arranging some flowers. Fischer did not even stop to reply to his reverential greeting.

"Where's Mr. Van Teyl?" he demanded.

"Mr. Van Teyl has gone away, sir," was the calm reply. "He left here the day before yesterday. There is a letter."

Fischer took no notice. He was already gripping the telephone receiver.

"982, Wall," he said--"an urgent call."

He stood waiting, his face an epitome of breathless suspense. Soon a voice answered him.

"That the office of Neville, Brooks and Van Teyl?" he demanded. "Yes! Put me through to Mr. Van Teyl. Urgent!"

Another few seconds of waiting, then once more he bent over the instrument.

1. What street did Fischer visit?
2. Was the visit at night?
3. What was he hurrying out of?
4. Where?
5. What was almost torn?
6. From where?
7. Did he look at the papers?
8. What did he do with them after?
9. What did he throw at the attendant?
10. What did Fischer spring into?
11. What was he the first passenger to reach?
12. Where did he tell the taxi to take him?
13. How long before they arrived there?
14. What did Fischer give the driver?
15. Was it a good tip?
16. to where did he walk quickly?
17. What was Nikasti doing?
18. Where?
19. Whose location did Fischer ask about?
20. When had he left?
1. Fourteenth
2. Yes.
3. A train
4. Pennsylvania Station
5. newspapers
6. the news stand
7. Yes.
8. threw them back
9. a dollar bill
10. a taxi.
11. the street
12. Plaza Hotel
13. less than ten minutes
14. a tip
15. Yes.
16. the tape machine.
17. arranging some flowers.
18. in the sitting-room
19. Mr. Van Teyl
20. the day before yesterday.