“It might be that fire-extinguishers ordinance,” he said slowly. “Stitz pushed that through. And Skinner had to buy them. And—they were owned by Miss Briggs and the Colonel negotiated the sale.” He jumped up and turned over the file of back numbers of the TIMES. He found the announcement he had made of the arrival of Eliph', and the report of the meeting of the city council that had passed the fire-extinguishers ordinance. Eliph' had been in town before the ordinance had passed. Eliph' boarded now with Doc Weaver. Again he read the article in the TIMES, seeking for the meanings that Doc knew so well how to hide. He paused at the “Things are seldom what they seem” lines, and considered it. Suddenly he arose and put on his hat.
“Wait here,” he said, “I'll be back.”
When he returned he was smiling. He had visited Skinner's Opera House and had examined the fire-extinguishers where they sat, each on its bracket.
“Hewlitt,” he said, “when you told Doc about the fire-extinguishers did you tell him they were lung-testers?”
The little book agent stared at the editor.
“I never told,” he exclaimed. “I have never said a word to Doc Weaver, nor to anyone about them. Not a word. I have kept it as sacred as the secret of the Man in the Iron Mask, a full account of whom, together with a wood cut, is given on page 231, together with 'All the World's Famous Mysteries,' this being but one feature of Jarby's——”
“All right,” said the editor. “And you never told him about the graft?”
The blank amazement on the book agent's face was sufficient answer.
“I've got to go out,” said the editor. “I've got some reporting to do. You'll excuse me. I want to see Stitz. And Skinner. And Guthrie. I wish Doc hadn't gone to his State Medical Society meeting to-day.”
Eliph' went out with the editor, who locked the door behind him.