While still speaking, he was summoned to the telephone. He sat down at a desk near by.
"Armstrong? Robert Dorns on the wire. Say, Findlater and Macgowan have quarreled; it don't amount to much, but it's a symptom. Do you know a fellow over there named Henderson?"
"Yes. Assistant treasurer of Consolidated. A good man, too. What about him?"
"I think he'd like to quit his job. Suppose we make him an offer if he'll quit and bring his copies of records—"
"See here, Dorns, none of that!" snapped Armstrong angrily, while the committee eyed him in startled wonder. "I'll not pay out one cent of bribery for anything—and I don't think Henderson is the sort who'd take a bribe. Did he suggest that?"
"No. I thought it up all by my own little self, me lad. S'pose we pry him loose?"
"All right. In that case, I can use him here. He can give us more inside dope on Consolidated's doings than any one else. But not a cent for bribery, understand! If Henderson would take any money for coming over here, I'd not have him and I'd not trust him. We just had word from Mansfield. The suit is dismissed on technical grounds."
"Political, you mean. All right. So long."
Armstrong swung around to meet the intent gaze of Judge Holcomb.
"Henderson is leaving Consolidated?"