There was a grin, expanded, on the faces of the others.
"Stand away from that bed!" roared Clayton at Jimmie Dale.

"And if you go near it again, I'll throw you out of here bodily!" Jimmie Dale edged away, and, eyes lowered, fumbled nervously with the leaves of his notebook.
Clayton grunted, glared at Jimmie Dale for an instant viciously--and resumed his story.
"I was saying," he said, "that Metzer was to come to headquarters at eight o'clock this evening.

Well, he didn't show up.

That looked queer.
It was mighty important business.

We was after one of the biggest hauls we'd ever pulled off.