Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/36

20 room; "but, being a church-member, you naturally couldn't afford to let any one, your wife especially, know of your being engaged in a business that was so undignified and of such dubious morality.

"You advertised, and did so well that you needed more help. You couldn't afford to be known in the matter, and so, when Miss Vivian, here, came to your office to get work, you selected her as assistant. Not wishing to be seen too much in her company, you went to call on her, and finally induced her to help the professor. Then the professor went on one of his periodical debauches, she telephoned to you, and you came down here to straighten out the correspondence, which was becoming larger and more profitable every day. There was more work to it than you at first thought. You had to stay here that night; then you became afraid of Dove's disappearance and of the post-office inspectors. So you buckled down to a night and day job of it until you could clean up the money before you were caught. You are now about ready to quit the affair altogether. Is this correct?"

The old man, who had been listening in great astonishment, assented. "But are you going to report all this to my wife, sir?" he faltered. "It will simply kill her. Can't you keep this from her? I promise to give up the business right now."

Astro drew a telegraph blank from his pocket. There was a message already written on the yellow slip, and he handed it over to Hudson. It read:

", Oct. 21, 4 "Why no letter? Did you receive mine? Returning Empire State Limited to-night. ."