A slight flush showed under the rice-powder on the woman's sophisticated young face.
"I was wise to Kestner's duckin' the buggy long before Wilsnach ever opened his peep about it."
"How did that happen?"
"Because I knew the skirt who was cannin' his purfession'l chances by marryin' him."
"Does marriage always do that?"
"When a slooth settles down it ain't wise to stack too high on him stayin' the curly wolf o' the singed-cat crib."
The chief puzzled for a moment or two over this apparently enigmatic statement.
"Then it's Wilsnach you want to swing in with on this new work?"
"Not if I have to crowbar me way into it."
"But why are you so sure you can help the Service out in this case?"
"I never said I wanted to help the Service out."
"Then what do you want to do?"
"I want 'o see Wilsnach make good."
For just a moment a smile flickered about the face of the pendulous-jowled man at the desk. It made the watching girl think of heat-lightning along an August sky-line.
