“Not an impossibility, however?” Locke persisted.
“Humanly speaking, anything is possible,” smiled Mr. Ackerman, getting his second wind. “Rumours are most unreliable things.”
“Yes,” Locke assented. “When did you and Garwood go into the lumber business?”
Once more Mr. Ackerman was taken flat aback. Figuratively speaking, he even gathered sternway. He simply stared at Locke for a moment.
“The—lumber—business?” he exclaimed, recovering power of speech. “My dear sir, I am not in the lumber business, save for a few shares which I own here and there.”
“No?” Locke smiled unpleasant, open disbelief. “How about Garwood?”
“Why don’t you ask him?” said Mr. Ackerman with unnecessary tartness.
“I will, one of these days,” said Locke. “By the way, I’m going to subpoena both of you in my application to the commission.”
“That will come on next year, I believe,” said Mr. Ackerman with something very like a sneer.
“Probably next month,” Locke retorted. “Good morning.”