Page:Earl Derr Biggers - Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913).djvu/273

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THE EXQUISITE MR. HAYDEN
253

"How did you get hold of it?" inquired Mr. Lou Max.

"I had my eye on this little professor person," explained Mr. Bland. "This morning when Magee went up the mountain I trailed the highbrow to Magee's room. When I busted in, unannounced by the butler, he was making his get away. I don't like to talk about what followed. He's an old man, and I sure didn't mean to break his glasses, nor scratch his dome of thought. There's ideas in that dome go back to the time of Anthony J. Chaucer. But—he's always talking about that literature chair of his—why couldn't he stay at home and sit in it? Anyhow, I got the bundle all right, all right. I wonder what the little fossil wants with it"

"The Doc's glasses was broke," said Max, evidently to the mayor of Reuton.

"Um-m," came Cargan s voice. "Bland, how much do you make working for this nice kind gentleman, Mr. Hayden?"

"Oh, about two thousand a year, with pickings," replied Bland.

"Yes?" went on Mr. Cargan. "I ain't no