MR. CHARLES BANNON, care of MacBride & Company, South Chicago:
We send today complete drawings for marine tower which you will build in the middle of spouting house. Harahan Company are building the Leg.
MACBRIDE & Co.
Bannon read it carefully, folded it, opened it and read it again, then tossed it on the desk. "We're off now, for sure," he said to Miss Vogel. "I've known that was coming sure as Christmas."
Hilda picked it up.
"Is there an answer, Mr. Bannon?"
"No, just file it. Do you make it out?"
She read it and shook her head. Bannon ignored her cool manner.
"It means that your friends on MacBride & Company's Calumet house are going to have the time of their lives for the next few weeks. I'm going to carry compressed food in my pockets, and when meal time comes around, just take a capsule."
"I think I know," she said slowly; "a marine leg is the thing that takes grain up out of ships."