‘I am not much of a judge,’ he informed her, ‘but these look the lighter. I’ll have half a dozen, please. That is,’ he went on with a whimsical glance at the clock, ‘if it’s safe.’
The barmaid looked at him as if she thought he was crazy, but she did not speak and Tanner explained:
‘A friend of mine had an experience here the other night buying cigars, so he told me. He missed his train over the head of it. I was wondering if I should do the same.’
A light seemed to dawn on the girl. She laughed.
‘I remember your friend. I couldn’t help smiling, but I was sorry for him too. He came in here and chose a dozen cigars, and then he looked up and saw the clock.
‘ “Your clock’s fast,” he says.
‘ “I don’t think,” I says, and with that he hooked it out of the door, fair running, and all the cigars lying on the counter. I couldn’t but laugh at him.’
‘But he didn’t laugh, for he missed his train,’ prompted Tanner.
‘Oh, he missed his train right enough. He came back and showed me his watch—three minutes slow. But he got his cigars all right.’
Tanner took Austin’s photograph from his pocket, and glancing at it casually, passed it to the girl.