"Oh, I know a few people," said the man, cautiously.
"You know Tommy White, of course?"
"Do I?"
"Don't you?"
"I might, without knowing his name. Our customers don't all leave their cards when they buy a drink. I don't know your name, for instance."
"Yes, but I do not live in the neighborhood. White must come here often."
"Well, he hasn't been in lately," said the bartender, and then stopped short as he noted the slip that he had made. The detective did not choose to appear to notice it, but asked:
"That is the point. Isn't it odd that he should have disappeared?"
"Oh, I don't know. A man can go out of town if he wants to, I guess."
"Do you know that White went out of town?"