r. Obreeon seemed interested to the point of being worried when I asked
him to have a seat, and at this and every suggestion he was taken with
violent shooting pains, and his lips were pursed for a drawn whistle of
discomfort. A smooth man was never so ill at ease. Any promoter who will
abandon his air of supreme confidence and adopt the Obreeon principle of
disinterestedness in all worldly affairs except his agony, will pull
millions from the pockets that now begrudgingly yield ten thousand
dollar allotments in return for smooth talk concerning gigantic
ventures, as viewed from the sub-cellar of enterprise.

Obreeon apologized for coming; said he ought really to be home, he felt
so badly; had been so wretched, etc.; but he had waited so long, if he
was going to do anything with me, it must be done now. Then he would
draw a few whistles, pinch up his face and screw his mouth around in a
way that convinced me he had no axe to grind. No one but a
philanthropist would go out to see a man when in such pain.

"There is a matter which I wanted to see you about before going to my
friend Smith," said Mr. Obreeon. "Of course, I know he is working on
this case--we tip each other off sometimes, you know, and would like to
have this bit of evidence." He pointed to a small leather bag. I eyed
it, but failed to identify it as a Hosley exhibit. "Some of my men
gathered this evidence at the fire," he continued. "Of course, what I
have found out won't be of any use to them unless they have plenty of
Hosley's handwriting for expert examination--"

Hosley's handwriting! My swallowing was on walnuts. I could see that
they were close on Jim's trail, but I dared not reveal where I stood in
the matter or that Tescheron had not been near me. If there was any
handwriting it must be mine, moreover, for Jim never wrote; he sent
telegrams in great emergencies. I pulled myself together, offering to
get Mr. Obreeon a drink or a drug that would ease his intense pain, so
that he might be persuaded to remain and divulge all he knew. This man
was at work independently of Smith, and might help me. No, he would not
take anything, thank you, as it might cause him to collapse! Gracious,
but I was afraid he might collapse. He assured me he shared my fears,
and made me promise he would be taken at once in the ambulance to the
address on the card, should the worst happen. My assurances calmed him
and he proceeded, but with great effort:

"Yes, I have here o