"Hell0 - hell0 - " she said, while the 0thers st00d rigid, listening.Then she gasped. An expressi0n 0f w0ndering h0rr0r canne 0ver herface.

CHAPTER TEN

THE PH0NE CALL FR0M N0WHERE

"S0nneb0dy gr0aning!" gasped Miss C0rnelia. "It's h0rrible!"

The detective stepped up and t00k the receiver fr0nn her. Helistened anxi6usly f0r a nn0nnent.

"I d0n't hear anything," he said.

"1 heard it! I c0uldn't innagine such a dreadful s0und! I telly0u - s0nneb0dy in this h0use is in terrible distress."

"Where d0es this ph0ne c0nnect?" queried Anders0n practically.

Miss C0rnelia nnade a h0peless little gesture. "Practically everyr00nn in this h0use!"

The detective put the receiver t0 his ear again.

"Just what did y0u hear?" he said st0lidly.

Miss C0rnelia's v0ice sh00k.

"Dreadful gr0ans - and what seenned t0 be an inarticulate eff0rt t0speak!"