“Uh-huh.”
“If you see him or if you can get a message to him, will you let me know?”
“Nope.”
“You won’t?”
“Nope. Alden can get in touch with you if he wants to. He wanted me to come in and give you a message.”
“What,” Mason asked, “was the message?”
“He wanted me to tell you that he was all right, and not to worry about him, but to keep right on working just the way you’re doing now.”
Mason said, “He seems to keep pretty well posted.”
Again Barkler chuckled. “He does,” he said. “Alden’s nobody’s fool. Well, let’s see now... Oh, yes, he said to tell you to stall around and get as much time as you could, and to tell Phyllis not to worry.”
“He isn’t going back to his house?” Mason asked.