“You did?” exclaimed Mr. Morton with a stare, partly suspicious, partly surprised. “That’s queer.”
Frank said no more. He opened the suit case and removed its two neatly put up packages. One contained the private papers of Mr. Morton. The other contained the mailing lists and mail order system layout.
Frank placed the two parcels on the desk before his host. The latter chanced to open the larger package first. He carelessly ran over the lists and the accompanying literature.
“H’m,” he said rather irritably, “I’ve little use for that monument of my fool-killer experiment!”
Frank was relieved—in fact, pleased, to observe Mr. Morton contemptuously sweep aside the litter before him and inspect the second package.
This interested him. He sorted out quite a lot of bills and receipts.
“Guess I’m a careless business man,” he spoke at last. “That fire so discouraged me I just got out, bag and baggage. There’s some good, collectible bills here. Now then, young man,” he continued, facing squarely about on Frank, “don’t tell me you came way down here from Greenville with that stuff just out of courtesy and kindness.”
“I will tell you the whole story, if you have the time to listen to it,” replied Frank.
“Certainly—fire away.”