Paget had performed this action in the semidarkness of the alcove. He went into the windowless hall and turned on the light. He scanned the sheet of paper, reading it as though to refresh his memory.
Satisfied, he replaced the paper against the shade; he let the shade fly up and the document was again concealed. A clicking sound informed him that the roller had locked automatically.
Paget laughed softly. All anxiety had left his face. He now seemed full of enthusiasm. With an effort he restrained himself and resumed his accustomed languor.
He had forgotten the man at the Merrimac Club in his elation.
BUT at that very moment, the man at the Merrimac Club was becoming suddenly active. The reading room was deserted, for most of the men in the club had gone to dinner. The man arose from his chair and revealed the features which Paget had vainly sought to observe.
The man’s face was a strange one — smooth, expressionless, and masklike. It was the face of the stranger who had visited Doctor Lukens, the night before his death.
The calm-faced man went to the newspaper table. He turned the pages of the Morning Monitor. He stopped at the section of classified ads. His eyes gleamed as they found a paragraph under the heading
“Situations Wanted — Male.”
The paragraph read:
Executive. Man of 23 years experience will accept responsible position. Minimum $9750 a year. Will deal with corporations only. BX-86.