The League of Frightened Men

As for your question, my sources of information may be superlative, but they are not infallible. If Mr. Bowen ventures to object that I have belittled him, I shall consider his protest with an open mind."

"Of course," Drummond agreed. "But if you could just tell me in confidence -" i*'If you will excuse me." Wolfe opened his eyes, got his chin up, and raised his voice a little. "Gentlemen. Gentlemen?

Could I have a word with you?"

They approached his desk, three or four from the corner the bookshelves made, and the wet contingent from the alcove table.

Two or three still in chairs stayed there!

Drummond, his hide too thick to show any red from Wolfe^s sandpapering, trotted around to the far side. Mike Ayers flopped into a chair again, stretching out his legs; his mouth gaped wide in a free-for-all yawn, then suddenly he clamped his lips tight with a look of indignant and wary surprise. I had a notion to go and move him off the rug, but decided he was going to hold it. Wolfe was handing it to them in his handsome manner:

"The hour is getting late, and I would not wish to detain you beyond necessity. I take it that we are in agreement -"

Arthur Kommers interrupted, "I ought to leave in a minute to catch the midnight back to Philadelphia. Do you want my initials on that thing?"

"Thank you, sir. Not at present. There is a phrase to be deleted. I shall ask Mr.

Cabot to prepare copies in his office tomorrow morning and send them to me for distribution." He sent a glance at the lawyer, and Cabot nodded. "Thank you.

–In that connection, Mr. Farrell, I wish to make a proposal to you. You are broke, but you have a fairly intelligent face. To be broke is not a disgrace, it is only a catastrophe. You can help me. For instance, you can take, or send, copies of the memorandum to those members of the _ league not present this evening, and | arrange for their co-operation. I will pay you twenty dollars a day. There will be other little jobs for you."

The architect was staring at him.

"You're quite a guy, Mr. Wolfe. By God if you're not. But I'm not a detective." • "I shall keep my demands modest, and expect no intrepidity."

B "All right." Farrell laughed. "I can use twenty dollars."

"Good. Report here tomorrow at eleven. – Now, Dr. Burton. Your lifelong acquaintance with Paul Chapin places you in a special position, for my purpose.

Could you dine with me tomorrow evening?"

Without hesitation, Burton shook his head. "I'm sorry, I shall be engaged." ^ "Could you call on me after dinner?