Page:Earl Derr Biggers - Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913).djvu/101

Rh a man past middle age, respected highly in the uni versity circle, is missing."

An oppressive silence followed this remark. Mr. Eland's sly eyes sought quickly the profess or's face. The older man sat staring at his plate; then he raised his head and the round spectacles were turned full on Magee.

"You are very kind," said Professor Bolton evenly.

"There is another story in this paper," went on Mr. Magee, glancing at the haberdasher, "that, it seems to me, I ought to taboo as table talk at Bald- pate Inn. It relates that a few days ago the youth ful cashier of a bank in a small Pennsylvania town disappeared with thirty thousand dollars of the bank's funds. No," he concluded, "we are simply here, gentlemen, and I am very glad to let it go at that."

Mr. Bland sneered knowingly.

"I should think you would be," he said. "If you'll turn that paper over you'll read on the back page that day before yesterday a lot of expensive paintings in a New York millionaire's house were cut from their frames, and that the young artist