“How did Gordon get the safe open?”
“Possibly Mrs. Trevor opened the safe before he got there.”
“Did she know the combination?”
“The Attorney General declares that only he and Clark knew it.”
The room telephone rang loudly, and Long hastened to answer it. “Hello! Yes, at the ’phone. Yes; he’s here—all right.” He hung up the receiver. “It’s a note for you, Dick, so I told the clerk to send it right up.”
“Thanks. Secretary Bowers advised me to find out the whereabouts of Clark on the night of the third,” pursued Dick, tossing his cigar stub into the ash receiver, “but up to now I’ve been so busy I have not had a chance.”
“That’s not a bad idea— Come in,” called Long, as a knock sounded on his door. A district messenger boy entered.
“Mr. Tillinghast?” he asked. Long motioned to Dick. “Sign here, sir,” and he extended his book and the letter at the same time.
“How did you know Mr. Tillinghast was here?” asked Long, idly, as Dick hurriedly scrawled his name in the place designated.
“The lady at his house told me he was dining here with you, sir; and as the Attorney General said it must be delivered at once, I came right here. I’ve already been paid, sir, thankee, sir, good night,” and, taking back his book, the messenger departed.