"I'm not quite ready to do that," he said good-naturedly. "Sorry to have troubled you for nothing."
The two detectives exchanged a look of scorn. "These amateurs think they know it all!" it said. Only the fact that they knew Jack was a great man's secretary, and therefore a person to be propitiated, restrained them from audible comment.
However, when they found that Jack was disposed to reward them liberally, they changed their opinion of him. Ten dollar bills are wonderful sweeteners.
"How about me?" asked Tommy anxiously.
"Back to the mines," said Jack. "In other words, 1118 Broadway."
Tommy's face fell piteously.
"Mind you," said Jack quickly. "I'm not blaming you for our failure. You did wonderful work. I'll send for you when the trail gets hot again."
He likewise presented Tommy with a green testimonial of his appreciation.
Before any of them got out of the room the telephone bell most surprisingly rang. They all stopped and stared at the instrument as if they expected an apparition to issue from the mouthpiece.
"Wait!" said Jack. "Perhaps there's something here."