“That’s my story, and I’ll stick to it,” replied Mr. DeLisle.
“I’m very much obliged,” Eden said. “Of course, this is all between ourselves. And I may add that if I ever do decide to buy a lot on the desert—”
“You’ll consider my stuff, won’t you?”
“I certainly will. Just at present, the desert doesn’t look very good to me.”
Mr. DeLisle leaned close. “Whisper it not in Eldorado,” he said. “I sometimes wish I was back in good old Chi myself. If I ever hit the Loop again, I’m going to nail myself down there.”
“If you’ll wait outside a few minutes, DeLisle—” Holley began.
“I get you. I’ll just mosey down to the development and see if the fountain’s working. You can pick me up there.”
The young man went out. Chan came quickly from behind a near-by door.
“Get all that Charlie?” Eden inquired.
“Yes, indeed. Most interesting.”
“We move right on,” said Holley. “Jerry Delaney came out to the ranch about seven o’clock Wednesday night, and he didn’t come alone. For the first time a fourth man enters the picture. Who? Sounded to me very much like Professor Gamble.”
“No doubt about that,” replied Eden. “He’s an old friend of the prophet Isaiah’s—he admitted it here Monday after lunch.”
“Fine,” commented Holley. “We begin to place Mr. Gamble. Here’s another thing—some one drove up to the doctor’s Sunday night and carried Shaky Phil away. Couldn’
