"To the Editor of the Personal Column.... An Answer to Boss' in Friday's paper, August 19...." He put down his pencil and folded the note still smaller. Then he got one of his shoes and slipped the paper inside of the loose lining. After that, he nodded to Nickie and putting the light out they crawled into bed. "Devlin'll be takin' one of us to go through that doctor's examination business soon's he gets back, Nickie," Skippy whispered. "Whoever he takes, will take that note 'cause it'll bring us help if we wait our chance an' slip it to somebody we think we can trust. We'll pass somebody going back an' forth to the doctor's office an' it's better if it's a lady." "Yeah, an _old_ lady," Nickie murmured, thinking wistfully of his good aunt. "Them you can trust." "For two reasons we shouldn't give it to the doctor," Skippy warned. "Devlin might get wise, an' besides the doctor might be workin' with Devlin. So we gotta be careful, huh?" "You tell 'em! Kid, you're a wonder at dopin' out things. If it wasn't for you, I'd be in the dumps--you keep a guy all pepped up." "Aw, it ain't anything. I wanna help myself too, don't I? But I trust you, Nickie, honest. I wouldn't let you in on this if I didn't. Shorty and Biff are out 'cause I don't feel sure of 'em." "Yeah, they're too dumb. But take it from me--Nickie Fallon's been your pal from the minute I saw you--see? An' that means it's all jake between us. Justa show how much you can trust me, kid, I won't even read that note if I'm gonna be the one to take it. I'll keep it in my shoe till Devlin ain't lookin' an' I see that old lady. What you wrote's your business an' I ain't buttin' in." Skippy knew that Fallon was sincere. And though, at first, he was a little fearful that he had not obeyed orders strictly to the letter, he knew that Carlton Conne would understand that he _had_ to take Nickie into his confidence this little bit. He had purposely refrained from sending the message direct to the great detective or bringing the name of the International Detective Agency into it in any way lest the note should fall into unfriendly hands. After all, he told himself, no one, not even Nickie, could guess who he was or the part he was playing, from the contents of that note. Certainly, Devlin wouldn't guess, if he read it, that the man addressed as "Boss" was the man who was determined to track him down--none other than that famous detective, Carlton Conne! He had done all that he could do now. They had to be patient and wait until one or the other could safely place the note in the hands of some trustworthy person. Thus far they were safe and sound, Skippy assured himself. At least they were tonight. But what of tomorrow? CHAPTER XVII A CHANGE OF PLANS