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He handed her the receiver "Here is someone ishes to speak to you"

Cautiously, she took it from his hands "Hello," she muttered, "this is Adeline Austin"

For a brief instant, an expression of confusion was mirrored in her eyes, then it was slowly transfor, saying nothing, as though the detached voice over the line was standing before her

Finally, at the end of the one-sided conversation, she ed to utter a feords "Yes, sirI will Goodby"

Slowly, she replaced the receiver and stood in a trancelike bewilderment "Waswas that really the President of the United States?"

"It was You can verify it if you wish Call long distance and ask for the White House When they answer, talk to Gregg Collins He's the President's chief aide It was he who passed along my call"

"Just iine, the President asked me to help him" She shook her head dazedly "I can't believe it really happened"

"It happened, Mrs Austin Believeyour first husband and the strange circureat benefit to the nation I know that sounds like a trite way of stating it, but"

"Who can turn down a President?" The sweet sone from Adeline's hands She was back on balance, outwardly, at least

Seagrauided her back to her chair in the living room "Now then, tell me about Jake Hobart's relationship with Joshua Hays Brewster"

"Jake was an explosives specialist, a blaster, one of the best in the fields He knew dynae, and since Mr Brewster insisted on only the topcrews, he often hired Jake to handle the blasting"

"Did Brewster know Jake was married?"

"Odd you should ask that We had a little house in Boul

der, away fro camps, because Jake didn't want it known he had a wife He claimed that mine foremen wouldn't hire a blaster as married"

"So naturally, Brewster, unaware of Jake's el mine"