"Sandy, but
replete with squabs. Why didn't you come earlier? We could have taken
you."
"May I talk privately with you, Mr. Winfield?"
"Sure."
Kirk looked at Mr. Penway, who nodded agreeably.
"Outside for Robert?" he inquired amiably. "Very well. There is
no Buttinsky blood in the Penway family. Let me just fix myself a
high-ball and borrow one of your cigars and I'll go and sit in the
car and commune with nature. Take your time."
"Just a moment, Mamie," said Kirk, when he had gone. He picked up a
telegram which lay on the table. "I'll read this and see if it's
important, and then we'll get right down to business. We only got back
a moment before you arrived, so I'm a bit behind with my
correspondence."
As he read the telegram a look of astonishment came into his face. He
sat down and read the message a second time. Mamie waited patiently.
"Good Lord!" he muttered.
A sudden thought struck Mamie.
"Mr. Winfield, is it from Steve?" she said.
Kirk started, and looked at her incredulously.
"How on earth did you know? Good Heavens! Are you in this, Mamie, too?"
Mamie handed him her note. He read it without a word. When he had
finished he sat back in his chair, thinking.
"I thought Steve might have telegraphed to you," said Mamie.
Kirk roused himself from his thoughts.
"Was this what you came to see me about?"
"Yes.
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