The next impending question regarded the hour at which young ladies got up of a morning in this woman's town. This he put to the sleepy-eyed blond cashier of the restaurant.
"You trying to kid me, customer?" was her cautious reply. "If no, it depends upon where said lady lives. Fifth Avenue in the Sixties? Ain't you flapping kinda high? I'd say anywheres from ten _A.M._ to twelve noon. Why not jingle up her maid and ask? Oh, you're welcome and to spare. Keep the change."
Before entering the nearest cigar store to act on this suggestion, Pape remembered that last night the Sturgis' phone had been declared useless--its wires cut. He called for the repair department of the company. The voice with a rather dubious "smile" at the other end of the line agreed to enquire just when the number would be restored to service.
"Say, Useless," came the answer in a moment, "that line's in order. Hasn't been out. I just got an O. K. over it. You must have got wrong information from one of our centrals. Excuse, please."
He would have "excused" with more pleasure if his simple question had not started a series of others more involved. How did a 'phone fallacy fit into the robbery plot? Why had the wheezy butler, Jasper, been sent afoot to the nearest police station if the wires had not been cut? Did Jane know or did she not that the line was in order when she stopped him in his attempt to call Headquarters?
He decided not to "jingle her maid" at once but to await the hour first suggested by the "blond" cashier before asking answers. Jane Lauderdale looked the kind of girl who would have arisen by ten _a.m._ At any rate, he would give her benefit of doubt. But no mental preparation during the interim, as to what tack her temper might take, in any way prepared him for that morning's second shock.
Jasper answered--there was no mistaking his voice. Pape followed the announcement of his name with a comment over the speed with which the telephone had been fixed, to which the born butler replied smoothly, impersonally, non-committally.
"Yes, Mr. Pape. The Telephone Company is exceedingly efficient, sir."
The request for speech with Miss Lauderdale was met with equal competence.
"The family is all out. They left early this morning for the country, sir, to seek a few days of peace and quiet."