“Because regulations require all-wool garments—and get them. What is the fabric?”
“A fairly good mixture, from the very elemental chemical test I made. Something in the nature of a worsted batiste, I should judge, from what I could make out under the inferior magnifying-glass that they loaned me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Blair. You’ve eliminated one troublesome hypothesis for me. I’ll telephone you before three o’clock. Good day.”
From the woolen manufacturer, Chester Kent went direct to the Martindale Center library, where he interviewed the librarian.
“Do you get the Agriculture Department publications?”
“Yes.”
“Have you a pamphlet issued by the Bureau of Entomology, Helmund on The Swarm Phenomenon in Lepidoptera?”
“Yes, sir. It was inquired for only yesterday by Mr. Blair.”
“Ah, yes. He’s quite interested in the subject, I believe.”
“It must be quite recent, then,” said the librarian. “We haven’t seen him here for a long time until two days ago, when he came and put in a morning, reading on insects.”