"Never mind," Belle tantalized. "Where did you find out?"
"That would be telling," I begged the question, turning and introducing Craig.
"Oh, I'm so glad to meet you," she smiled. "Of course I've heard a great deal about you from Mr. Jameson and I've always admired your wonderful work."
"Indeed you've helped us a great deal in this case, yourself," returned Craig, ignoring the flattery, as he always did.
"I'm so glad," thanked Belle, sincerely. "If there's anything I can do, ever, I hope you'll ask me. It isn't often that I feel that the stuff I do has any real importance. More often people think I'm a prying pest, I imagine. But then without that eternal curiosity, who could write? Isn't that so?" she appealed to me.
"Quite," I agreed.
"Especially in a woman," thrust Belle.
"I'm sure that can't be so," remarked Craig. "Reporters and detectives have much in common. Women make good in both fields—very good."
Belle smiled. Sophisticated she might be. Yet no woman can be said exactly to hate flattery of the right sort.
"How does Mrs. Lathrop take the affair—with bravado?" inquired Belle. "You see, that expedition down to Greenwich Village with Mr. Jameson has made me look on this case with a sort of proprietary interest."