As he went on down he passed a group of laborers who were bringing stairway material to the carpenters.
"I don't know but what you was talking pretty loud," said Max to Peterson, in a low voice. "Here's some of 'em now."
"They didn't hear nothing," Peterson replied, and the two went back to the distributing floor. They stood in a shadow, by the scale hopper, waiting for the reappearance of Grady's companion. He had evidently gone on to the upper floors, where he could not be distinguished from the many other moving figures; but in a few minutes he came back, walking deliberately toward the stairs. He looked at Peterson and Max, but passed by without a second glance, and descended. Peterson stood looking after him.
"Now, I'd like to know what Charlie meant by going home," he said.
Max had been thinking hard. Finally he said:—
"Say, Pete, we're blind."
"Why?"
"Did you think he was going home?"
Peterson looked at him, but did not reply.
"Because he ain't."