Jim just stuck his head in the door and told me to tell you if you couldn't get a gilt edge loan at 20, not to let it go less than 18. Jim is a cuss.
I suppose your brother wrote you what happened up at Gil. Harper's recently.
If the cyclones haven't got you by the time this reaches Aberdeen, write.
Very truly, your friend,
Frank N. Mills."
This letter I registered at Lexington and at night, about 11 o'clock, when I had followed it into the Cincinnati post-office, Herrick and Salmon were in the money-order division on a step-ladder, peering through a glass transom into the registry division. As soon as possible I joined them, and patiently we waited for Quinsey to turn a trick.
It was exactly two A. M. when he commenced on the Chicago bill. He reached the letter from Lexington at precisely 2:45. It was fat and tempting. Herrick was on the top of the ladder at that instant, and he sent a peculiar thrill of surprise through me when he turned and whispered:
"Hush, hush, he has picked it up.
"Now he's feeling of it.
"He's looking at the back of the of the R. P. E. (the outside envelope) to see how well it's sealed.
"He's laid it down and placed a book over it; somebody is moving around.