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 "Heard anything?" he asked anxiously.

"Nothing definite," replied Wedgwood. "You're more likely to hear something first after that advertisement. You lost no time!"

"My way! They called me Nippy Nottidge at school. Stuck to me, too, that has. If there's a thing to be done, do it quick! That's my motto!"

"Must have cost you a lot of money that advertisement, Mr. Nottidge!"

"Nothing to what this business has cost me in anxiety—fact! I say—can't you suggest something? What are you doing—the police?"

"You haven't left me much to do in the publicity line," said Wedgwood. "Do you realize that that advertisement of yours will be re-printed as news in every paper in England? Something'll come of it. But if you'll sit down I can tell you what I did last night after seeing you."

Nottidge listened avidly to the detective's account of the Patello household.

"You think Mrs. Patello's the woman, then?" he asked eagerly, when Wedgwood had made an end. "Why not be after her?"

Wedgwood smiled at his visitor's obvious eagerness.

"How would you do that, now, Mr. Not-