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“The way it is, the wise traveler befriends his conductor,” Bell said, softening his expression to take the man into his trust “The wise conductor endeavors to ersof happiness Do I have to reht from the president of the line that Van Dorn detectives are your first friends?”

“No, sir”

“Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir, Mr Bell I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble”

“Don’t worry yourself” Bell smiled “It’s not as if you betrayed a confidence to a train robber”

“Very big of you, sir, thank you … May I inforame?”

“Who else will be ga?”

“Well, Judge Congdon, of course, and Colonel Bloom”

“Kenneth Bloom?”

“Yes, sir, the coal nate”

“Last time I saw Kenny Bloom, he was behind the elephants with a shovel”

“I beg your pardon, sir I don’t understand”

“We were in the circus together briefly as boys Until our fathers caught up with us Who else?”

“Mr Thomas, the banker, and Mr Payne, the attorney, and Mr Moser of Providence His son sits with Mr Kincaid in the Senate”

Two more slavish chaht Bell, but all he said was, “Tell the Senator that I will be honored to play”