“I don’t think you’re likely to find her around here.”
“Maybe not. But there’s something. Holmesley has beaten it for the Far East. Sailed yesterday. But the story is still in this country, if the lady can be rounded up.... Well, I’m going to the village to make inquiries. Want to put me up again for the night if there’s no train back?”
“Sure thing! There isn’t likely to be, either.”
Banneker felt greatly relieved at the easy turn given to the inquiry by the distorted tip. True, Gardner might, on his return, enter upon some more embarrassing line of inquiry; in which case the agent decided to take refuge in silence. But the reporter, when he came back late in the evening disheartened and disgusted with the fallibility of long-distance tips, declared himself sick of the whole business.
“Let’s talk about something else,” he said, having lighted his pipe. “What else have you written besides the wreck stuff?”
“Nothing,” said Banneker.
“Come off! That thing was never a first attempt.”
“Well, nothing except random things for my own amusement.”
“Pass ’em over.”
Banneker shook his head. “No; I’ve never shown them to anybody.”