“Not right away. I have some errands to do in the neighborhood. I’ve got to buy a book for a birthday present. There’s a library around here somewhere, isn’t there?”
“Just across the street,” said Jane, entering into the spirit of the masked conversation with interest. “I was looking at a fine book over there a few minutes ago. You’ll find it on the second shelf—the fifth book from the end, on the north side of the store.”
“I’ll remember that,” said Carter, repeating, “the fifth book on the second shelf.”
“That’s right,” said Jane, as they left the drug-store together.
“Which way did the old man go?” asked Carter.
“Down Broadway—toward home,” she replied. “I wanted to follow him, but it seemed more important to stay here and watch to see if any one came for the message he left there in the book.”
“You did just right, and the Chief is tickled to death. He wants to see you right away. You have a copy of the message, haven’t you?”
“Yes, do you wish to see it?”
“No, but he does. Has anybody entered the store since you were there?”
“Nobody, that is no one but a couple of girls.”