“You tell ’em! Kid, you’re a wonder at dopin’ out things. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be in the dumps—you keep a guy all pepped up.”
“Aw, it ain’t anything. I wanna help myself too, don’t I? But I trust you, Nickie, honest. I wouldn’t let you in on this if I didn’t. Shorty and Biff are out ’cause I don’t feel sure of ’em.”
“Yeah, they’re too dumb. But take it from me—Nickie Fallon’s been your pal from the minute I saw you—see? An’ that means it’s all jake between us. Justa show how much you can trust me, kid, I won’t even read that note if I’m gonna be the one to take it. I’ll keep it in my shoe till Devlin ain’t lookin’ an’ I see that old lady. What you wrote’s your business an’ I ain’t buttin’ in.”
Skippy knew that Fallon was sincere. And though, at first, he was a little fearful that he had not obeyed orders strictly to the letter, he knew that Carlton Conne would understand that he had to take Nickie into his confidence this little bit. He had purposely refrained from sending the message direct to the great detective or bringing the name of the International Detective Agency into it in any way lest the note should fall into unfriendly hands.
After all, he told himself, no one, not even Nickie, could guess who he was or the part he was playing, from the contents of that note. Certainly, Devlin wouldn’t guess, if he read it, that the man addressed as “Boss” was the man who was determined to track him down—none other than that famous detective, Carlton Conne!
He had done all that he could do now. They had to be patient and wait until one or the other could safely place the note in the hands of some trustworthy person. Thus far they were safe and sound, Skippy assured himself. At least they were tonight.
But what of tomorrow?
CHAPTER XVII
A CHANGE OF PLANS
The day dawned cloudy and gray and when Skippy woke at eight o’clock he looked in vain for a ray of heartening sunlight. Nothing but warm air came in through the shutters and it was sticky and close.
Nickie sat up and stretched lazily. “Wow! What a headache, kid,” he said, rubbing his forehead. “How’s yours, hah?”