“Got your business attended to, eh?” suggested Eden cheerfully.
“Yes,” said Thorn—no more. Eden rose.
“Well, I guess I’ll turn in,” he said, and went to his room. As he entered he heard the splash of Mr. Gamble in the bath that lay between his apartment and that occupied by the professor. His seclusion was ended. Have to be more careful in the future.
Shortly after his lights were on, Ah Kim appeared at the door. Eden, finger on lips, indicated the bath. The Chinese nodded. They stepped to the far side of the bedroom and spoke in low tones.
“Well, where’s little Evelyn?” asked the boy.
Chan shrugged. “More mystery,” he whispered.
“Just what has our friend Thorn been doing for the past four hours?” Eden wondered.
“Enjoying moonlit ride on desert, I think,” Chan returned. “When big car go out, I note speedometer. Twelve thousand eight hundred and forty miles. Four miles necessary to travel to town, and four to return with. But when big car arrives home, speedometer announces quietly twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine miles.”
“Charlie, you think of everything,” Eden said admiringly.
“Strange place this Thorn has been,” Charlie added. “Much red clay on ground.” He exhibited a fragment of earth. “Scraped off on accelerator,” he explained. “Maybe you have seen such place round here?”
“Nothing like it,” replied Eden. “You don’t suppose he’s harmed the gal—but no, Madden seems to be in on it, and she’s his darling.”
