t you hep to this,
Cap'n; if that's a phony tale you're peddlin', don't try it on him."

"But it's all true--every word of it," insists Rupert.

"Even so," says I, "I wouldn't chance it on with Old Hickory. He's a
hard-headed old plute, and that romance dope is likely to make him
froth at the mouth. If he starts in givin' you the third degree, or
anything like that, you'd better close up like a clam. Here we are,
and for the love of Pete draw it mild."

You see, I hadn't minded passin' on a freak to Mr. Robert, for he often
gets a laugh out of 'em. But Mr. Ellins is different. The site of his
bump of humor is a dimple at the base of his skull, and if he traces up
the fact that I'm the one who turned Rupert and his pirate yarn loose
in the general offices my standin' as a discriminating private sec. is
goin' to get a sad jolt.

So when Cap'n Killam has been in on the carpet near an hour, with no
signs of his either havin' been let out or fired through a window, I
begins to get nervous. Once Mr. Robert starts to go into Old Hickory's
sanctum; but he finds the door locked, and shortly after that he shuts
his roll-top and leaves for the day.

It's near closin' time when Old Hickory opens the door an inch or two,
throws a scouty glance around, and beckons me mysterious to come in.
Rupert is still there and still alive. In fact, he's chokin' over one
of Mr. Ellins' fat black cigars, but otherwise lookin' fairly satisfied
with himself.

"Young man," says Old Hickory, "I understand that you have heard some
of Captain Killam's story."

"Eh?" says I, careless like. "Oh, yes; I believe he did feed a little
of that tale to me, but--"

"You will kindly forget to mention it about the office," he cuts in.

"Yes, sir," says I. "That'll be the easiest thing I do. At the time
it sounded mighty--"

"Never mind how it sounded to you," says he. "Your enthusiasms are
easily aroused. Mine kindle somewhat more slowly, but when-- Well, no
need to discuss that, either. What I want you to do is to take Captain
Killam to some quiet little hotel--the Tillington, for instance--and
engage a comfortable room for him; a room and bath, perhaps."

"Ye-es, sir," I gasps out.

"In the morning," he goes on, "you will call for the Captain about nine
o'clock. If he has with him at that time certain odd pieces of antique
jewelry, you may report over the 'phone to me and I will tell you what
to do next."

I expect I was gawpin' s