Locke was elated at the thought of having won so powerful an enemy to his side.  But, had he heard Dora’s remark to Paul as she met him around a convenient corner, his elation would have given way to caution.

Paul eagerly questioned her with a glance as she approached.

“Well, he fell for it,” she announced, toughly, then added, “just as you fell for his dictagraph game with the girl.”

There was just a bit of jealousy yet in the tone of Dora.  She was not yet convinced of her complete triumph over Eva.

At the same time Locke left the cafe and entered a telephone-booth, from which he called up Eva.

“Come to the Black Tom immediately,” he said.  “Dora is now on our side and we’ll learn the truth, she promises.”

Eva at once started to get ready so that she would arrive at the time Locke had fixed, while he loitered in the neighborhood, waiting until the hour agreed upon with Dora was almost gone.

Dora was already waiting for him outside the place when he returned to the Black Tom.

“How is everything?” inquired Locke.

“All arranged.  You’ll get Paul right.”

Just then a man slouched past.

“Follow that fellow,” whispered Dora.

Locke nodded and did so.

The man proceeded into the cafe and Locke followed.  But instead of sitting down in the main room the man passed through into an inner room.  Locke followed.  He looked about.  It seemed to be a sort of storeroom, as nearly as he could make out.

His guide pressed a secret panel and, stepping through an aperture, beckoned Locke to follow.  Locke drew his automatic and went ahead in the inky blackness that lay beyond the panel.  The next moment the very floor under his feet seemed to give way.  He felt himself thrown down bodily into a sort of subcellar.

Locke was immediately pounced upon by lurking emissaries who seized him after a terrific battle and held him firmly.

“Where’s a rope?” growled one.

There was no answer as the men struggled.  The question was repeated.  Apparently one of them looked about.

“Use the wire,” he growled.

The questioner gave a grunt of brutal satisfaction.  There in this storeroom lay a huge roll of barbed wire.  Coil after coil of this barbed wire was wound about Locke as he struggled, but ever more feebly, for with each coil now the barbs began to cut cruelly into his flesh.

Some one lighted a candle and by its light he saw many carboys of acid standing in a row.

Directly behind them, so that there could be no doubt of the horrible fate in store for him, stood the Automaton.

Already at the entrance to the Black Tom Cafe Eva’s speedy runabout came to a stop.  Dora was at the curb to meet her and was all winning smiles.

Instinctively Eva shrank from this overdressed woman.  But it had been Locke’s desire that she come to this place, and she decided to follow the woman, for would it not lead to the unmasking of Paul, whom she hated?