"Bad news?" asked the hotel clerk, as he noticed the look on Joe's face.
"No—yes—well, it's unexpected news," hesitated Joe, as he made up his mind, on the instant, not to tell the contents of the note. He wanted a little time to think. Rapidly he read the message over again. The boy was just shuffling out of the hotel.
"Wait a minute!" Joe called after him. "Where'd you get this note?" the young pitcher asked.
"At de office."
"Yes, I know. But who brought it in?"
"I dunno. Youse'll have to see de manager."
"Oh, all right," Joe assented, and then he turned aside. He was still in a quandary as to what to do.
Once more he read the note.
"'If you want to do your friend Rad a good turn,'" he repeated. "Of course I do, but what does it mean? Rad can't be in trouble, or he'd have sent me some word himself. That isn't a very good neighborhood at night, but I guess I can take care of myself. The trouble is, though, if I go out, and Rad comes back here in the meanwhile, what will happen?"
Joe was thinking hard, trying to find some solution of the mystery, and then a flash came to him.