Goode," Rand regretted. "There
have been some rather deplorable developments here, lately. The butler,
Walters, has been arrested for larceny. It seems that since Mr. Fleming's
death, he has been systematically looting the pistol-collection. I'm
trying to get things straightened out, now."
"Good heavens!" Goode was considerably shaken. "When did you discover
this, Colonel Rand? And why wasn't I notified before? And are there many
valuable items missing?"
"I discovered it as soon as I saw the collection," Rand began answering
his questions in order. "Neither you, nor anybody else was notified,
because I wanted to get evidence to justify an arrest first. And nothing
is missing; everything has been recovered," he finished. "That's what I'm
so busy about, now; getting my list revised, and straightening out the
collection."
"Oh, fine!" Goode was delighted. "I hope everything was handled quietly,
without any unnecessary publicity? But this other matter; I don't care to
go into it over the phone, and it's imperative that we discuss it
privately, at once."
"Well, suppose you come over here, Mr. Goode," Rand suggested. "That way,
I won't have to interrupt my work so much. There's nobody at home now but
Mrs.
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