Mr. Ferris glanced at Hickory.
"Oh, have the old man here if you want him," was that detective's blunt reply. "I have nothing to say against your getting all the light you can on this affair."
"Very good," returned Mr. Ferris. "You may give me his address before you go."
"His address for to-night is Utica," observed Byrd. "He could be here before morning, if you wanted him."
"I am in no such hurry as that," returned Mr. Ferris, and he sank again into thought.
The detectives took advantage of his abstraction to utter a few private condolences in each other's ears.
"So it seems we are to be laid on the shelf," whispered Hickory.
"Yes, for which let us be thankful," answered Byrd.
"Why? Are you getting tired of the affair?"
"Yes."