p here, seein's it's my
special job just now to watch your aunt's cottage."

Since Kendrick had seen him last the "Iron Man" had grown a little
moustache, a weird affair of reddish bristles which a scar on his lip
compelled to lean mostly in one direction with a windswept appearance.
It looked like an old toothbrush which has had desperate adventures in
an overpacked travelling bag. This hirsute anomaly Mr. McCorquodale
now stroked complacently, enjoying the effect of his surprising speech.

"The reason I beats it just now," he went on, "is 'cause I thought
'twas Long Jawr, the butler, as was after me. I gotta keep incog with
the servants, see. If I'd 'a' knowed it was you as was chasin'
me--that's different, see."

Kendrick's questions came in a fusillade. He was more than surprised;
he was vaguely alarmed. Wade had said nothing about having placed one
of the C.L.S. detectives at Sparrow Lake and the knowledge that such a
course had been deemed advisable was disturbing. Why was it necessary
to watch the Waring cottage at this peaceful summer resort? The thing
was ridiculous.

The detective was ready enough to answer to the best of his ability,
but it was soon evident that his own information was limited. Cranston
had called him in off another job to tell him that the "Old Man" wanted
him for some personal work, and therefore he was excused from
officially reporting for an indefinite period. Mr. Wade merely had
told him to go and take a holiday at Sparrow Lake--camp out and fish;
incidentally, to keep an eye on the cottage which the Warings occupied.
He was to report instantly to the president personally if he noted any
suspicious characters hanging around and to trail the stranger or
strangers without fail. He knew nothing of the reasons for these
instructions. He wished all his assignments were "as big a cinch" as
this one.

Phil knew that McCorquodale was not concocting a yarn and his face
showed his anxiety. He questioned the detective so closely that that
worthy was moved to protest.

"Hot tamalies! Y'r auntie aint goin' to get croaked n'r nothin' like
that, kid! Not with me here, lookin' after her. What's eatin'
y'anyways? Everythin's ridin' along Jake, see. An' speakin' of
eatin', s'pose we has a bite. I can give you toast, tea an' a Welsh
rabbit or hot dogs, dill pickles----"

Phil smiled at his host's efforts to reassure him. Certainly there was
something so quizzically human about t