"Good joke," said the stranger.
"No joke at all. George was right—at least, so it seems. Allan Harrowby cleared out this evening."
"Yes. So I was told by the clerk in there. Do you happen to know—er—Allan?"
"Yes. Very well indeed."
"But you don't know the reason he left?"
"Why," answered Minot, "I suppose because George Harrowby gave him twenty-four hours to get out of town."
Again the Chicago man laughed.
"That can't have been the reason," he said. "I happen to know."
"Just how," inquired Minot, "do you happen to know?"
Leaning far back in his chair, the westerner smiled at Minot with a broad engaging smile.