“And so I have ... but the railroad company didn’t buy the big bulk of it, though, to that point, we probably will get bigger orders from them when they learn that we’re dependable. Getting my story, Mr. Samson asked me why I didn’t try the big Chicago hotels and restaurants. They bought tremendous quantities of food, he said, and always were on the lookout for a ‘special.’ He even gave me a note of introduction to one buyer. So, instead of stopping in Joliet, as had been my plan in starting out I went on into the city. And there, kiddo, is where I got the big orders. Oh, baby! My only worry now is shipments. I’m wondering if we can make good.”
“And you knew all this,” I gave him a stiff eye, “when you sent that telegram?”
“Sure thing,” he grinned. “I thought it would be fun to throw a scare into you. As a matter of fact, the order that I mentioned in the telegram is the smallest of the lot.”
At the restaurant I asked them to bring me a cup of strong coffee. I felt I needed it. For in checking over Poppy’s orders I found that they totaled more than six thousand dollars.
Tom Weir collided with us in front of the hash house.
“I’ve been looking all over town for you.”
“What’s the matter?” says Poppy, noticing how excited the other was. “Has the cat killer been after you?”
Tom shook his head.
“It’s the gold cucumber.”
I should have mentioned that the cucumber had been returned to our new chum and his uncle. And now Tom brought it out of his pocket in two pieces.