At that moment Alden came strolling out, smoking his cigar and pulling on a pair of gloves.
"Hullo, boy!" he said; his voice was clearly audible to the listening Oppner. "Got a wire for me? I've been expecting it all the evening."
The boy opened his wallet, but with some hesitation.
"Dr. Phillips," continued Alden, "that right?"
The boy hesitated no longer.
"Phillips, yes, sir," he said, and handed the telegram to Alden.
With a nonchalant air which excited Mr. Oppner's admiration, Alden walked to a lamp some little distance away, tore open the yellow envelope, and read the message.
"All right, boy," he said. "No reply. Here, catch!"
He tossed the boy a coin, and with a touch of genius which showed him to be a really great detective, halted a moment, scratched his chin, and as the boy again mounted his bicycle, re-entered the gate of The Cedars.
"That's real cute!" murmured Oppner.