"He's just helping me, Millie," said Marvin, grinning at Bill. "Thanks for the tip, Lightnin', but I wanted to see you particularly to-day, so I—"
He stopped abruptly, for Bill had raised a warning hand.
Marvin recognized a familiar voice talking in the lobby. Glancing in, he saw Raymond Thomas standing in the center of the room, holding Mrs. Jones in conversation. Hammond and Blodgett had just come down the stairs and were joining the other two.
"Better beat it, John!" Lightnin' whispered.
But Marvin stood there. He was thinking quickly. He had caught a word or two of what Thomas was saying, and he gathered that matters were coming to a climax. Suddenly his expression cleared and he grinned.
"Never mind about that, Lightnin'," he said, mechanically opening the door for Millie, who, seeing that they were ignoring her, tripped in with a petulant toss of her head. "I think I have a little scheme that will fool our friend Blodgett. But first—Bill, promise me that you won't sign that deed without consulting me!"
"All right," said Lightnin', slowly. "I promise. But you better be careful, John, an'—"
"Come on!" Marvin interrupted, leading the way himself. "I've a great desire to be in on these proceedings!"
Seeing that the young man was not to be stopped, Bill said no more as he slid through the door and ambled after him into the lobby.