inancial statement, would show that. I ought
to know, I'm chairman of the board of directors. Just because there was
some talk of retrenchment, shortly before Mr. Fleming's death ..."

"Oh, no responsible person pays any attention to that sort of talk," Rand
comforted him. "My armed-guard and armored-car service brings me into
contact with a lot of the local financial crowd. None of them is taking
these rumors seriously."

"Well, of course, nobody wants the responsibility of starting a panic,
even a minor one, but people are talking, and it's hurting Premix on the
market," Goode gloomed. "And now, people will hear of Mrs. Fleming's
having retained you, and will assume, just as I did at first, that you
are making some kind of an investigation. I hope you will make a prompt
denial, if you hear any talk like that." He pressed a button on his desk.
"And now, I'll get a letter of authorization made out for you, Mr.
Rand ..."

CHAPTER 4

Stephen Gresham was in his early sixties, but he could have still worn
his World War I uniform without anything giving at the seams, and buckled
the old Sam Browne at the same hole. As Rand entered, he rose from behind
his desk and advanced, smiling cordially.

"Why, hello, Jeff!" he greeted the detective, grasping his hand heartily.
"You haven't been around for months. What have you been doing, and why
don't you come out to Rosemont to see us? Dot and Irene were wondering
what had become of you."

"I'm afraid I've been neglecting too many of my old friends lately,"
Rand admitted, sitting down and getting his pipe out. "Been busy as the
devil. Fact is, it was business that finally brought me around here. I
understand that you and some others are forming a pool to buy the Lane
Fleming collection."

"Yes!" Gresham became enthusiastic. "Want in on it? I'm sure the others
would be glad to have you in with us. We're going to need all the money
we can scrape together, with this damned Rivers bidding against us."

"I'm afraid you will, at that, Stephen," Rand told him. "And not
necessarily on account of Rivers. You see, the Fleming estate has just
employed me to expertize the collection and handle the sale for them."
Rand got his pipe lit and drawing properly. "I hate doing this to you,
but you know how it is."

"Oh, of course. I should have known they'd get somebody like you in
to sell the collection for them. Humphrey Goode isn't competent to
handle that. What we were all afraid