Armstrong's face brightened in a smile.

"Wire me—well, wire me at Evansville, and hope for the best!"

Dorns clapped him on the shoulder, and was gone.

Armstrong went back into the private office. Slosson, in a dazed panic, had just been checked in an outburst of speech by Windsor. As for Ried Williams, he was a broken man.

"I have a little matter to settle with Slosson," said Armstrong quietly. "Strictly a personal matter, Mr. Windsor. Dorothy, will you kindly go into the adjoining office and wait for us?"

He received a smiling assent from her that made his heart leap, and she left the room. Windsor put out a hand to Armstrong.

"Hold on a second! What was that about Slosson being at your house?"

"That's what I'm going to find out now." Armstrong turned to Slosson. "Come along!"

"What for?" demanded the other with a show of defiance.

Armstrong answered very softly.