But the storekeeper shook his head.
"Are you sure you have looked everywhere?"
"It is not in the shop—I thought sure you must have it. Does it—was it vitally important?"
"Important!" Armitage threw himself into a chair and put his feet on the desk. "Well, Jackson, I fancy you might call it so. Damn!"
The storekeeper whistled.
"I shall have the rooms of the workmen searched."
"Just one room, please; and quickly, will you?" rejoined Armitage, "Yeasky's. He is the only man who would have known its value. Give my compliments to the superintendent and ask him for some one to help you."
As the storekeeper departed, Joe Thornton entered the office.
"Any luck, Jack?"
"Rotten! The magnetic control of the model is gone. I was right this morning and you were wrong, Joe. Yeasky got it. Why did n't I keep my hands on him, when I had him! Something told me to."