“Do you intend to quiz them immediately?” inquired Cranston.
“Yes,” responded Barth. “Throckmorton showed no ill effects after making his statement two nights ago. Hence we will question the recovering patients. But upon one point only.”
“And the point?”
“The identity of the inside man who was working with the crooks. There were indications of a melee at Galder’s. Detective Cardona believes that they had discovered the malefactor.”
They had reached the elevator and were riding upward when Barth resumed his statement.
“Some supercrook is in back of it all,” assured the commissioner. “Once we have discovered which of the victims was in the game, we shall quiz that particular man when he awakes. Through him we will learn the identity of the big chief.”
THEY arrived at Doctor Lagwood’s experimental room. Joe Cardona was there alone. The detective arose to greet the commissioner. He stated that Lagwood was visiting the various patients. While Joe was making this explanation, the physician entered.
Lagwood smiled wearily. He nodded and extended his hand when Barth introduced him to Cranston. The specialist sank in the chair that was in front of his desk.
“I am thoroughly exhausted,” declared Lagwood. “I thought that those last cases would end this trouble. Two nights ago, I was ready to go home to Long Island and take a good rest. Then a dozen victims came here.”
“We hope these will be the last,” stated Barth.
“I share the hope,” smiled Lagwood. “Another siege like this could make me a fit subject for my own sanitarium on the Sound. By the way, commissioner, when these new patients recover, it might be advisable to send a few of them out there.”
“For further observation?”
“Yes. There is a possibility that the death sleep may leave some ill effects. If I have a few patients convalescing under my personal observation, I shall be able to note any tendency toward recurring symptoms.
“There are several persons out there now who have partly recovered from various forms of sleeping sickness. Others are paralytics who have shown recurrent tendencies. There is one woman who is subject to occasional trance conditions. It is my practice to study all new ailments even after the patients have apparently gained complete recovery.”
“A wise procedure.”
The talk had become too medical for Joe Cardona. The detective’s mind could not deviate from crime. Finding opportunity, Joe put in a remark.
“I was talking with Doctor Lagwood before you arrived,” asserted the detective, to Barth. “You know what I said last night, commissioner. Twelve people knocked out in the middle of what looked like a brawl. I think some form of gas got them.”
“We disproved that theory at Valdan’s,” objected Barth. “What is your opinion, doctor?”
“The gas theory has merit,” replied Lagwood, propping his head wearily upon his hand. “But the blood condition of the victims does not prove it. I am inclined to reject it for the present. Later, perhaps, I may make tests with the convalescents.”
“How?”
“By my vapor treatment. I tried it with but little success. I did not care to apply it too strongly while the victims were still in their cataleptic state. But with convalescence, at my sanitarium, I might make more concentrated experiments.”
Doctor Lagwood paused. His eyes closed; he seemed half dozing. Yet his ears detected the approach of footsteps from the hall. Awaking from his catnap, Lagwood was the first person to witness the entry of a younger interne.
“Ah, Jennings!” exclaimed the specialist. “You have a report to make on the patients?”
“Yes, sir,” replied the interne. “Rufus Galder is showing the first signs of consciousness.”
“Good. We shall go into his room promptly. What else, Jennings?”
“I called Hoffer, sir, to ask about the neutralizer. You said you wanted some to take to the sanitarium.”
“Yes, in case I try the vapor treatments on the convalescents. I wanted to be sure that he had the full supply available.”
“He has it, sir. Hoffer was not there, but one of the assistants told me that he had made up a new supply from the formula.”
“A new supply? I asked about the old.”
“Apparently something happened to it, from what the assistant said. He told me that Hoffer raised a big fuss the other day because he could not find it and that the old man immediately made up a duplicate amount.”
“Very well. So long as Hoffer has some ready when I need it.”
“I am sure that it is available, Doctor Lagwood. I made certain of the fact when I talked with the clerk.”
Jennings left and Lagwood smiled wearily as he spoke to the police commissioner.
“There is an efficient helper,” remarked Lagwood. “A new interne, that young chap, Jennings, yet he is the most capable man in the hospital. I have hesitated to call other physicians in on these last cases; but twelve persons are more than I can attend. Other physicians might want to prescribe according to their own methods. Not so with Jennings.
“He has carried out my instructions to the letter. In fact, some of the patients have been almost entirely under his care. Well, gentlemen” — the physician arose — “let us go in and view the first man to recover. If Rufus Galder appears strong, I can permit you to question him.”
LAGWOOD led the way while the others followed. They found a nurse arranging pillows in back of Galder’s head. The millionaire had come out of his trance in surprising fashion. Though Jennings had reported but a few moments before, Galder was already wide awake.
Doctor Lagwood motioned the others to remain in the corridor. He entered and made a brief examination. He came to the door, just as Jennings appeared beside those who were waiting there.
“Three others are recovering,” said the interne. “I think you should see them, Doctor Lagwood.”
“At once,” replied the specialist. “All right, commissioner. You may enter and talk to Rufus Galder.”
Barth and Cranston entered. While they stood beside the bed, the commissioner gave the nod to Cardona. The detective had questioned Throckmorton; Barth wanted him to do the same with Galder. Joe approached, told the millionaire his name and came to the point.
“I want to know about what happened at your place,” explained the sleuth. “Tell me this, Mr. Galder. After the commissioner called you, did you make any effort to learn if a crook was among your guests?”
“I did,” affirmed Galder, steadily. “What is more, I learned the man.”
“You mean you got the fellow?”
“Yes. One of my servants — Rinehart — aided me in trapping him. But he made no statement. He would not tell the name of the man who had sent him on his mission of crime.”
“He’ll tell it to me,” growled Joe. “Wait until he comes out of his snooze. He’s right here in this hospital. Leave it to me, Mr. Galder. Say — what was the fellow’s name? Which one was he?”
“His name is Huring.”
With this statement, Galder closed his eyes and rested easily back upon the pillows. Joe Cardona swung abruptly toward the door. His purpose was obvious. He was going to make prompt use of this information. Joe reached the corridor. Barth and Cranston arrived just as the detective ran squarely into Doctor Lagwood.
The physician pressed Joe aside. He approached Commissioner Barth and spoke in a low, serious tone.
“Bad news,” declared Lagwood. “I am sorry, commissioner, but I have come to report my first failure. One of the patients succumbed just as he was coming from his trance.”
“Dead?”
“Yes.”
“Who was he?”
Lagwood turned to Jennings who had just arrived. The interne had caught the commissioner’s question. He was holding a list, which bore the numbers of the patients. He referred to it.