I was late getting down to the office the next morning, for I had gone
back to Jim's and talked till all hours. It seemed that my
instructions to Wicks, to tell Annie to stay with Helen, had been taken
quite literally by that estimable pair, for when Helen had told the
girl to leave she had refused, saying that Mr. Felderson had ordered
her to stay. That was what had precipitated the quarrel.
Even when I left Jim, to go to bed, I had heard him walking back and
forth in his room, and once during the night, I heard him shut his
door. Thinking perhaps he might want me with him, I went to his door
and knocked. Jim was untying his shoes and explained that, unable to
sleep, he had gone out for a walk. The clock on the mantel-piece
showed half past four.
In spite of the fact he had practically no sleep the night before, he
was down at his usual hour, nine o'clock, and when I went into his
office to see him, there was no sign of fatigue on his face.
"Any news?" I inquired.
"This may interest you," and he tossed over the morning paper folded to
an article on the first page.