“Oh, could you? I didn't dare ask—you seemed so busy!”
“I could be there in—well, under fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, good. I've got—let me see—nearly half an hour.”
“Be by the clock in the main waiting-room Good-by!”
Hy slammed down the receiver; tore off the alpaca coat and stuffed it into the waste basket; got into his street coat; observed the editorial shears on the desk; seized them, cut the buzzer wires, noted with satisfaction the nick he made in one blade; threw the shears to the floor and rushed from the office.
CHAPTER XXIV—THE WILD FAGAN PERSON
AT the flower store in the station he bought a red carnation for his lapel and walked briskly toward the big clock.
A slim girl was there at the inquiry desk, very attractively dressed. His pulse bounded. She turned a forlornly pretty face and he saw that it was Hilda Hansen of Wisconsin.