. . . Well,
I've been out of town since January. . . . Hum! . . . Well," he
hinted dryly, "there was sufficient time for an explanation before I
went. . . . I guess you're right. . . . I went up to the farm in
October with Wherry."
Mr. Dorrigan desperately admitted that some of the time between the
escape of His Nibs and Carl's departure for the farm had been spent in
panic-stricken remorse and dread--some in the hospital due to an
altercation with Link Murphy, who for reasons not immediately apparent
wished jealously to obliterate his other eye. He begged Carl to give
him an immediate opportunity of squaring himself, for he had telephoned
the house so frequently of late that the butler had grown insulting.
Mr. Dorrigan added that he hoped Mr. Granberry's wholly justified wrath
had somewhat abated, but that for purposes of initial communication the
telephone had seemed more prudent.
He was plainly relieved at the answer.
Carl glanced at the tormenting candlestick and sighed. Another delay!
"All right," he said finally to Hunch, "come along. I'll give you
twenty minutes. If you're not through then, like as not I'll stir up
the grudge again--"
The telephone at the other end clicked instantly. Conceivably Hunch
was already on his way up town.
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