He sensed clearly enough that all this talk about street-railway strikes and subpoenas was rot.

The elevator man and the engineer were in cahoots.
There was a story here, but how to get to it was a puzzler.

He had one chance in a hundred of landing it--tip the mail clerk in the business office to keep an eye open for the man who called for "Double C" mail.
Eventually, the man who did call for that mail presented a card to the mail clerk.

At the bottom of this card was the name of the chief of the United States Secret Service.
"And say to the reporter who has probably asked to watch--hands off! Understand?
Absolutely--off!" When the reporter was informed he blew a kiss into air and sought his city editor for his regular assignment.

He understood, with the wisdom of his calling, that one didn't go whale fishing with trout rods..