I led him into the library and explained his presence to Miss Colton. She was delighted.
“It is SO good of you, Mr. Cahoon,” she exclaimed. “And you shan't starve, either. I will have some supper sent in to you at once. You can eat it while you are at work, can't you?”
She hurried out to order the supper. Phineas, in accordance with my request, seated himself in the little room adjoining the library, before the telegraph instrument.
“Thunder!” he observed, looking about him. “I never expected to send messages for King Solomon in all his glory, but I cal'late I can stand it if Sol can. S'pose there'd be any objection to my takin' off my coat? Comes more nat'ral to work in my shirt sleeves.”
I bade him take it off and he did so.
“This feller's in some hurry,” he said, nodding toward the clicking instrument. “Shall I tell him we're on deck and ready for business?”
“Yes, tell him.”
His long fingers busied themselves with the sender. A sharp series of clicks answered the call. Phineas glanced apprehensively out into the library.
“Say, he ain't no parson, is he?” he chuckled. “Wants to know what in hell has been the trouble all this time. What'll I tell him?”
“Tell him to send particulars concerning L. and T. at once. All the particulars.”