'You, Jocelyn, have profited by others' losses. You call yourself a financier. You are actually one who
traffics in the failures of those less fortunate. Your opportunity will be greater now; for where living men
once blocked your schemes, dead men will not.'
Jocelyn shuddered at the frank terms, then smiled weakly. Professor Urlich seemed to possess an
insidious influence over the financier— one which caused the man to forget his qualms despite himself.
'Simple plans are most effective.' As Professor Urlich proceeded with this statement, he drew a folded
paper from his pocket. 'Here is the list which you gave me, Jocelyn. It names more than a dozen
big-moneyed men whose deaths will prove highly profitable to you, and therefore' — Urlich stopped to
stare firmly at the man opposite him— 'profitable to myself and Ricordo.
'Your part, Jocelyn, is to simply remind me of the strategic time for any such deaths. The rest lies in my
hands — with the aid of Ricordo. You have named the first man. You will see him die to-night. I trust that
your plans are made with all precaution.'
'They are,' declared Jocelyn, with a nervous laugh. 'If Alfred Sartain dies to-night — '
'— when Alfred Sartain dies tonight,' put in Urlich, with his wicked sneer.
'With Sartain eliminated,' agreed Jocelyn, 'I am sure of an immediate profit of at least five millions. He
has practically agreed to refinance the Universal Chain Stores. I have large proxy holdings in the National
Syndicate and in Amalgamated Stores. If Universal fails to gain the money that it needs, the concern will
go into the hands of the receivers. My stocks will rise — '
'Sartain is the only salvation for Universal?'
'Positively. All depends upon him.'
'You will see him die to-night!'
Larry Ricordo was on his feet, rubbing his hands warmly as he heard these words. He swung toward
Jocelyn, to add weight to Professor Urlich's statement.
'You bet Sartain will take the bump,' he declared. 'Say! Maybe you don't know that I could be the
biggest shot in New York if I'd wanted to stay in the racket. I dropped out because I saw bigger dough
this way — without the chance of getting filled with lead by some other guy's mob.
'I'm supposed to be out in the sticks — too hot for me here. But I've got a couple of real gazebos working
for me. When Sartain comes into that penthouse of his, he'll be covered — '
'One moment,' interposed Urlich, staring cold at the gang leader. 'I told you that violence would be
unnecessary, Ricordo.'
'That's all right, professor,' responded Ricordo. 'I'm not interfering with whatever plans you've got. Just
playing safe, that's all. Duster Brooks is planted as Sartain's butler.'
'That I understood.'
'And I've got Slips Harbeck and a couple of gorillas in an apartment on the top floor. They won't move
unless we see that Sartain is going to get away. They'll wait to hear from me.'
'Very well,' said Professor Urlich. 'Nevertheless, your precautions were not needed.' Then, to Jocelyn:
'Ricordo is lacking in the technique of murder. During Sartain's absence, the penthouse was renovated.
Ricordo provided a competent supervisor in the person of Duster Brooks, who is acting as Sartain's
butler. Brooks had charge of the work. He is there to-night.
'Alfred Sartain will die — presumably from natural causes — due to my well-planned instructions.'
The professor glanced at his watch. He noticed that the time was nearly half past eight. He went to the
wall, and turned out the light; then to the window.
'Come,' he ordered through the darkness.
THE other men approached. The curtain raised under Urlich's touch. It was like the lifting of asbestos
before a drama.
Silhouetted before the sparkling glow of the city lay the huge apartment building. The dim lights of the
penthouse were the same as Larry Ricordo had viewed them. The corner was still black, and it was this
spot that the professor indicated.
'There is the studio,' he remarked, in a low tone. 'It is Sartain's custom to retire there, alone. This will be
his first visit upon his return. He is expected by nine o'clock, with his secretary. The chain-store
representative will call at half past.
'Brooks has given us all the information. The documents are on Sartain's desk for his consideration.
There is no reason why he should depart from his usual custom. It is upon such simple, commonplace
actions that all great deeds of hidden crime should be built.
'Your presence here will inspire your confidence in my powers. Ricordo has already evidenced his
doubts. You, Jocelyn, may also be apprehensive. But as you witness each step, and hear me explain its
cause, you will understand.'
The professor's tone had taken on the quiet notes of a scientific lecture. His calloused words brought a
grunted laugh from Larry Ricordo. Thomas Jocelyn shuddered. Nevertheless, the financier stayed as
close to the window as did the gang leader. There was a fascination in that scene across the street.
'You will witness death,' repeated Professor Urlich, by way of conclusion. 'Death undisturbed; death
unsuspected; death that will be regarded as accidental. Ricordo may trust to guns and violence. I deal
death with silent skill. That is the death that you will see to-night — and which will strike again and again.
Silent death!'
The professor paused. The men by the open window remained motionless. Once more those insidious
words sounded from the lips of Folcroft Urlich.
'Silent death!'
CHAPTER II. IN THE PENTHOUSE
PROFESSOR URLICH had spoken correctly when he stated that Larry Ricordo had methods different
from his own. The gang lord who served the professor's evil designs was quite as anxious to see Alfred
Sartain die as was Urlich himself. Hence he had taken even more precautions than those that he had
mentioned to his companions.
Besides the gangsters stationed in a vacant apartment beneath the penthouse, there were others outside
the apartment building. They were there to see that nothing might disturb the scene above; to interfere
with the entrance of any other than Sartain, his secretary, and the chain-store delegate who had to- night's
appointment.
Thus, when Alfred Sartain alighted from a taxi outside the building, at precisely ten minutes of nine, he
was covered by slouching, hidden watchers. The millionaire was accompanied by one man, obviously his
secretary, who lugged a pair of suitcases. The doorman saluted as they entered, and helped the secretary
with his burdens.
When the elevator reached the penthouse level, Sartain rang the bell at the entrance. He was admitted by
a quiet-faced, middle-aged man in uniform. The secretary followed.
'Good evening, sir,' said the butler, in a pronounced English accent. 'It is good to see you return.'
'It's good to get back, Brooks,' said Sartain, with a smile.
The millionaire was a brusque man of fifty years. He gave his coat and hat to the butler, and strolled
