He assumed an engaging expression.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to go it alone, Jack,” he confessed frankly, accompanying the words with a disarming smile. “For a day or two, that is. Of course, we’ll go over the thing together step by step, and I’ll give you my advice whenever you wish it. There’s this other case, however, which will keep me in New York for the present, although it won’t take up all of my time. You see how it is—it simply means that I won’t be able to do much running around in the Simpson case just now. As soon as I get this other thing out of the way, though——”
“But hadn’t I better go to Hattontown, if that’s the state of affairs?” suggested Cray. “You can’t leave New York just now, you say, but you might be able to run out to New Pelham before long. For that matter, it’s quite likely that you could handle Mrs. Simpson better than I could. You have a great way of getting around the women.”
Gordon looked around with mock alarm.
“I’m glad there’s no one to overhear that, Jack,” he said, with a grin. “I might get the reputation as a lady-killer.”
“Nonsense, Carter!” scoffed Cray. “Everybody knows you never even look at a woman that way. Seriously, though, hadn’t I better beat it for Hattontown?”
That would have appealed to Green Eye if he had had any desire to get rid of his unsuspecting ally. That was not his purpose, however. He had a strong feeling that New Pelham was more promising ground than Hattontown, and, since he was determined that Cray should bear the brunt of the investigation, it was to New Pelham that he meant to send him.
“No, I think my way is better,” he insisted quietly. “You will see that later on, Jack, I’m sure. As for Hattontown, a few hours more or less will make no difference. You can start for New England to-night, if necessary.”
Jack Cray scratched his closely cropped head in a manner that was characteristic of him when in thought.