CHAPTER XIXMontague brought a couple of chairs, and the two seated themselves at the window for a long wait.
“How did you learn about this conference?” asked Montague.
“Be careful,” whispered the other in his ear. “We mustn’t make a noise, because Rodneywill need quiet to hear them.”
Montague saw that the cord was jerking again. Bates spelled out the letters one by one.
“W-a-t-e-r-m-a-n. D-u-v-a-l.He’s telling us who’s there. David Ward. Hegan. Prentice.”
“Prentice!” whispered Montague. “Why, he’s up inthe Adirondacks!”
“He came down on a special train to-day,” whispered the other. “Ward telegraphed him—I think that’s where we got our tip. Henry Patterson. He’s the real head of the Oil Trust now. Bascom of the Empire Bank. He’s Waterman’s man.”
“You canimagine from that list that th
