I got up and unlocked the door. "Get!" I said to Mr. Atterbury. "If you take my advice, old man, you'll go into some other line."
He made grand time on the stairs.
The head of the —— Detective Agency was Dongan, a well-known and able man, once the head of the New York Detective Bureau. He belonged to a school of investigation different from mine, but I respected his ability and I knew him to be above reproach. I was sure in this situation I could not do better than go direct to him. I called next morning.
"So you're in the same line?" he said looking at my card.
"That accounts for my business with you," I replied.
"What can I do for you?"
"Haven't your people told you what happened in my office last night?"
"No. Explain yourself."
"We are in the same line. Hunting down crooks. The supposition is that we handle only clean business.
"What are you getting at?" he demanded scowling.