Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/242

 they learned—when the express agent told them that I—a woman—had shipped them, they might have kept on following. The National Agency never lets up"

"That's so," Urleigh nodded. "Manager Grost of the Cincinnati branch has told me a good many stories about his agency's work. He was the one who got me interested in this case. I ought to tell him what I've learned, but now—now it seems to be your say. Whatever you say"

"Thank you!" she exclaimed. "Of course, I knew you were that kind. I know you quite well, you know"

"Well, thank you for your compliment to my knowledge," he grimaced.

"Oh, that's all right," she laughed at him. "And you a newspaperman."

"No," he shook his head. "I'm a river rat; the things I don't know about my job that used to be—I heard a river lady mention her husband-that-used-to-be—those things would equip a wonder in the profession."

"You have the spirit—the ambition," she praised him. "Any one who would go hundreds of miles, and who would travel with that horrible Gost, just to try and solve a mystery, risking his—everything! Oh, I think it's wonderful."