The man closed the drawer with a snap and turned to the visitors, his face a trifle pale. The drawer contained a king’s ransom. It seemed beyond the bounds of reason that they could have been actually manufactured by this slim, quiet man.
“But how do you get away from this place without anybody seeing you?” the Texan was asking. “People say you’re away for weeks at a time, but no one sees you go or come.”
Scott Randolph threw back his head and laughed heartily.
“That’s very simple,” he said. “I don’t go away. When a passion for work comes over me I shut myself up and absolutely refuse to open the door to any one. It’s the only way I can accomplish anything. They may hammer and pound all they like, but I pay no attention to it. That’s one of the reasons why I had this house built like a fortified castle. I can shut myself up in it and work undisturbed.
“Of course, I have to lay in a big supply of eatables, and so forth. For instance, this very afternoon I got in a big order from Jake Pettigrew’s store; and, when you have gone to-night and the door is locked behind you, I shall begin one of these periods of retirement in order to complete some very important work. Nothing short of blowing the house down would induce me to open the door again.”
As he finished he cast a significant glance at Dick, who thought he understood what that important work would be.
After looking about a little longer, they descended to the lower hall.
Glancing at his watch, Dick saw that it was almost ten o’clock.
“It’s about time we were wandering,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed myself, Mr. Randolph. It is very good of you to have us up here, and I shall be careful in delivering your message to Frank.”
“The pleasure has been mine, I assure you,” Randolph returned, as he shook hands with the Yale men. “It is not often that I have such a relaxation. I am only sorry that the pressure of work will not allow me to see you again. However, we shall meet somewhere, some time. The world is very small, after all. Good-by, fellows, and good luck.”