Jim looked around the room for a safe place to hide the precious silver cape. He decided on the big cedar chest in the open closet. He locked the fur in safely and dropped the key in his pocket.
"Ready for a little traveling?" he asked.
Puffy had discarded his shoes and was stretched out comfortably, a frosted glass in his hand. His chin dropped, jumped forward protestingly.
"Just let's relax," he begged. "I've worn the heels off my feet for you today."
Even as he talked the stout one started to tie the laces of his shoes. They went down the quiet hall and into the private elevator.
"What about George Lardner?" Drake asked as they shot toward the main floor. "Find out his life history?"
"At the police station." Puff admitted. Then in a puzzled voice he added, "all but the last two years of it."
"And those last two years?"
They passed quickly through the rear lobby and into the alley. The car was still where Jim had left it. As they drove out of the narrow alley and into the street, Puffy talked.
"George Lardner has been in every racket the law knows about," he said. "The police have a complete record of him since he cut his eye teeth stealing milk. But the last two years get me."