Page:Harold Titus--Timber.djvu/288

Rh The man smiled and waved a farewell as the locomotive snorted to be under way again.

Peerless, too, was asleep but not so soundly as Pancake. There were a half dozen street lights and one upstairs window of a business block showed life. The metal sign of a telephone company reflected the glow within.

John knocked and parleyed with a feminine voice on the other side. For some time entrance was refused, but finally a frightened little girl plucked aside the shade, peered out and with misgivings allowed him to enter.

For three hours he sat beside her switchboard while she worked to rouse rural operators and get a wire into Detroit. He did not let her rest and was rewarded finally by a sleepy voice in his ear.

"Hello, John; what the devil's up?"

"You're up—and I'm up—Listen, Dick, I'm sending a man down for a job."

"Don't need any men; turning 'em off every day."

"Makes no difference—His name is Kildare, Lucius Kildare, and he's on the way down with just enough money to get his hangover and appetite to your plant.

"Give him a job and keep money away from him—Yes—Ball and chain, if necessary—A job at your house would be fine!"

"What's the game?"

"A big one. Do as I say because it's more important than anything I've ever asked of you before. If you let this kid get back into this country in a month I'll never ask another favor of you as long as I live!"

A laugh came over the wire.

"If it's that serious I'll put him up at the club! Or how about a straight jacket?"