Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/18

 A slight flush showed under the rice-powder on the woman's sophisticated young face.

"I was wise to Kestner's duckin' the buggy long before Wilsnach ever opened his peep about it." "How did that happen?"

"Because I knew the skirt who was cannin' his purfession'l chances by marryin' him."

"Does marriage always do that?"

"When a slooth settles down it ain't wise to stack too high on him stayin' the curly wolf o' the singed-cat crib."

The chief puzzled for a moment or two over this apparently enigmatic statement.

"Then it's Wilsnach you want to swing in with on this new work?"

"Not if I have to crowbar me way into it."

"But why are you so sure you can help the Service out in this case?"

"I never said I wanted to help the Service out." "Then what do you want to do?"

"I want 'o see Wilsnach make good."

For just a moment a smile flickered about the face of the pendulous-jowled man at the desk. It made the watching girl think of heat-lightning along an August sky-line.