"It was all done in these apartments," The Thinking Machine added, turning to Cabell, "at the gas jet from which I took the tip. It had been only loosely replaced and the metal was tarnished where the lips had dampened it."
"It must take great lung power to do a thing like that," remarked Detective Mallory.
"You would be amazed to know how easily it is done," said the scientist. "Try it some time."
The Thinking Machine arose and picked up his hat; Hatch did the same. Then the reporter turned to Cabell.
"Would you mind telling me why you were so anxious to get away to-night?" he asked.
"Well, no," Cabell explained, and there was a rush of red to his face. "It's because I received a telegram from Virginia--Miss Lipscomb, in fact. Some of Henley's past had come to her knowledge and the telegram told me that the engagement was broken. On top of this came the information that Henley had been shot and--I was considerably agitated."
The Thinking Machine and Hatch were walking along the street.
"What did you write in the note you sent to Cabell that made him start to unpack?" asked the reporter, curiously.
"There are some things that it wouldn't be well for everyone to know," was the enigmatic response. "Perhaps it would be just as well for you to overlook this little omission."
"Of course, of course," replied the reporter, wonderingly.