“Chick,� said the detective, “I am in the private office of the chief, here. Where are you?�
“At home,� came the reply over the wire. “It is only half an hour ago that I phoned in, and Joseph told me what was wanted, so I came here.�
“Good. Well, I have some instructions to give you; but before I do that, let me hear anything that you have to tell me.�
“I haven’t anything to tell you that amounts to a hill of beans, Nick. So far as I have been able to determine there is no reason to suppose that Lynne is not all that he appears to be. His life, as far as I have been able to find out anything about it, is as clean as a whistle.�
“I believe that. But have you found any person who knew him intimately? who has known him intimately for a number of years? I would like to find such a person as that.�
“Yes; I have found one, although he isn’t what you’d exactly call a friend—although when fellows like him are faithful, they are mighty good friends to a man.â€�
“To whom are you referring, Chick?�
“To a chap named Tompkins, who used to be butler——â€�
“What?�
“Didn’t you get that?�