n the hall,
three solid-looking gentlemen had their gray heads together in a
serious confab. For some reason they appeared to regard his entrance
with considerable interest, and seemed to be discussing him while he
waited. He put it down to the fact that he was a stranger where it was
the custom for every one to know every one else. Then Herman Krech
came out of some room in the rear and swept down upon him, accompanied
by a short, stout, worried-looking individual.

"Hello, Creighton. This is Mr. Bolt, Mr. Varr's partner."

"Glad to meet you, Mr. Bolt." Creighton barely acknowledged the
introduction as he searched his friend's face. "Krech, how did this
happen? I wouldn't have had it--"

"I know." The big man broke in quickly, earnestly. "I know what you
are thinking. Forget it! It isn't your fault, nor mine. I warned him
yesterday morning on my own account, and again in the afternoon after I
had talked with you. He simply disregarded it."

"A pity!" muttered the detective. His face had cleared somewhat at
Krech's statement. "Thank goodness, I haven't got that negligence on
my conscience! It has been worrying me ever since I heard the news.
So he wouldn't listen to you?"

"Nary a bit. Let's go out on the piazza. There's a place around the
corner that this merry throng hasn't discovered."

He led the way with his easy self-assurance and they followed at his
heels. He was right about the privacy of the retreat to which he took
them; a few men were standing around the front piazza, but no one had
turned the corner.

"I'm glad to have a chance to speak to you, Mr. Bolt," said the
detective when they had found seats. "This is a shockingly different
state of affairs than I expected to find. What of the burglary that
Mr. Varr had on his mind? Has that any importance now apart from its
obvious connection with the crime?"

"Yes, indeed, great importance for me and a number of other people who
may suffer from the theft of Simon's notebook." Jason looked ten years
older than when he had risen that morning. "If that has gone it will
be a serious blow to our tanning business--and a gold-mine to any
competitor who might get his hands on it and not be honest enough to
return it."

"Um. Secret formulas--that sort of thing?"

"Exactly. On my own behalf, and out of respect for my partner's
wishes--his last wish, practically,--I would be very glad to have you
take a hand in the affair and see if you