“I will, Colonel, and thanks for the tip!”

But James Darcy did not go to trial the next day.  Up to the last minute it looked as though he would, and he was even brought down from jail to the courtroom where a great crowd had assembled in anticipation of the opening of the now celebrated case.

But, when the judge took his place on the bench, and the criers had proclaimed silence, there was a whispered conference among the prosecutor and his detectives, in which Carroll and Thong took part.  Then the judge was consulted and Darcy’s lawyer was called to the bench.  He was observed to be protesting against something, and finally the prosecutor went back to his seat at the table opposite the one where Darcy sat with his counsel.

“Have you any cases to move this morning, Mr. Prosecutor?” asked the court in formal tones.

“May it please your Honor,” began Mr. Bardon, “I had hoped to move the case of the State against James Darcy, indicted for murder, but, at the last minute, I find that one of my important witnesses is unable to be in attendance and, under those circumstances, I am compelled to ask for an adjournment of two weeks.

“I regret, as regards the counsel on the other side, having to do this, as he assures me he is ready and anxious to go to trial, but it is unavoidable, and I promise this, that if the witness referred to is not here two weeks from to-day, I will go on with the case anyhow.”

“Have you anything to say, Mr. Kenneth?” asked the judge of Darcy’s lawyer.

“Only that I regret the delay as much as does the prosecutor, and that we will be ready any time.  I should prefer to go on with the trial now, but I realize that the matter is out my hands.”

“The case then stands adjourned for two weeks,” announced the court, and the officer, arising, announced: 

“The case of the State against James Darcy postponed for two weeks, and all witnesses for the prosecution and for the defence will then appear without further notice.”

There was a hum of disappointment, and most of the crowd filed out when the prosecutor moved a case of assault and battery.  Darcy, with a look at Amy Mason, which she returned with one of assurance and confidence, was taken back to jail.

Colonel Ashley read: 

“Let your bait be as big a red worm as you can find.”

“Spotty is certainly red,” mused the fisherman.  He was sitting, after the adjournment, in his hotel room.  “Red and freckled.  As for bait—­”

Musingly he closed the little green book and watched the smoke curl lazily from his cigar.

Several days went by.  The colonel was seated in his hotel room, his finger between the leaves of a little green book, smoking and reading.  The telephone rang sharply.

“Hello.  Oh, it’s you, is it, Basset.  So you got back with Spotty, did you?  Good!  No trouble on the trip?  Fine!  All right, I’ll wait here for you.  No, the trial went off for two weeks.  You’re in plenty of time.  I’ll expect you soon.  Good-bye.”