The Strange Adventures of Bromley Barnes

"Come on, Brewster," he said, "it's Friday morning."

"When was the treaty to be signed?" asked Barnes of the Secretary.

"At ten o'clock Saturday morning."

The detective made a hasty calculation.

"That's thirty-four hours from now. You may go ahead with the business, and I'll undertake to recover your thirteenth copy of the treaty before that time."

"And before any outsider has a chance to see it."

"Well, I'll do the best I can, and meanwhile it's understood that I'm to have the use of any of the Secret Service men I need?"

"Certainly. You understand why I do not want to use the ordinary facilities of the Government. The President does not know of this yet. I don't want to trouble him if I can help it. He has worries enough."

Five minutes later the Secretary and the Senator were seated in the plum-colored car, speeding down the asphalted incline, and Barnes and Clancy stood facing one another in the cozy apartment