Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/265

 What I meant to say when you interrupted me, was that sometimes even the wasted space in a derby hat could be utilized to advantage.”

He took off the hat, and took a small, thick, black bound book out of it.

It was the Bible they had gone after.

Open-mouthed, astonished, Val stared; for a little while he was almost speechless. Finally he found voice, the while he contemplated Eddie, who sat there, holding the Bible in his hand and gazing at it admiringly.

“For the lova Mike, Eddie!” he gasped. “How did you ever manage to do that—I never saw you pulling it.”

“Neither did they, sir,” said Eddie, respectfully. “It’s a sorta heavy Bible, sir,” he added reflectively. “Now, in a silk hat, there would’a been more room⸺”

“You’d have taken away the suitcase in the silk hat, I guess,” said Val, his good temper restored marvelously. “I must admit that you’ve certainly earned your salary to-night,” he said. “Any man who can actually find a real use for a derby hat has my respect. Let’s have that Good Book, and we’ll see what we can see.” He took the book from his man’s outstretched hand.

“Better pull the blinds down, I guess, sir,” said Eddie, and he did so. “Never can tell what that there handless prodigy will be up to.”

On page two hundred Val found the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh chapters of Deuteronomy, in part. He read carefully for awhile, but could see nothing that was of significance.

“Moses seems to have a great deal to say here,” commented Val, “but he doesn’t seem to say anything