“Yes, I am,” said Brown.
“Well, I don’t blame you much,” said O’Brien. “That foreman is a disagreeable cuss. If I can help you any way, let me know.”
“Thanks,” from Brown. “I am thinking some of going away. If I stay here I will let you know.”
“Do!” urged O’Brien. “I wouldn’t like to miss seein’ you.”
The next act came on, and O’Brien turned to the stage. He missed seeing the glance that passed from one man to the other, and chuckled as he thought of the fancy Lawrence had had. When the show was over, the two men walked down toward the cafés, and O’Brien was amused to see the slight figure of Lawrence sliding along after them. His collar was turned up, and his soft hat had disappeared. In its place was a plaid cap.
“Detective stuff!” laughed O’Brien. “The kid is having the time of his life. But it does seem queer. However, there’s no distress about the affair so long as I can see. We wait our chance, and off we go with our precious bundles when they are not looking. It is too simple to be funny. They have overstepped with their slugging Mr. Ridgeway and cutting up our dirigible. They can’t hurt us now. Forewarned is forearmed.”
He strolled along until he came to The Willard, where he went in and approaching the news stand commenced to look for a magazine that was adventurous enough to suit his fancy. As he stooped, the man beside him let a cigarette fall from his hand. Someone had jostled him. It dropped directly under O’Brien’s eyes, and gleaming up at him he saw the intricate gold monogram of Smith’s cigarette. Before he could straighten up and face the man, a foot was planted on the cigarette and he rose to see no one but an old gentleman beside him smoking a fat black havana. It was certainly not Smith. Besides, a voice loudly proclaimed the old gentleman as “Hemmingway, old boy,” and O’Brien, furious with his luck, hung around the lobby for hours, hoping for another chance to see the expensive monogram and delicate cork tip.
After awhile he gave up and went back to the apartment that he now shared with Lawrence.
The boy was there before him, walking the floor in a great state of excitement.
“Well, O’Brien,” he burst out, “I ran them down!”