It was Sanford Quest who stood there, followed by the Sheriff of Bethel, two country policemen, and Red Gallagher and his mate, heavily handcuffed.
Quest glanced at the cigar.
"Say, do you mind picking that up ?" he exclaimed.

"That carpet cost me money." The plain-clothes man obeyed at once.

Then he edged a little towards the telephone.

Quest had opened his cigar cabinet.
"Glad you've left me one or two," he remarked drily.
"Say, aren't you wanted down yonder, Mr.Quest ?" the man enquired.
"That's all right now," Quest told him.

"I'm ringing up Inspector French myself.