"He talked but he didn't say anything. I tried the stewardess and also
Carl Hunter but both of them had received instructions from the general
manager of the line in Chicago to extend this man every courtesy and do
as he directed. The stewardess had him down as 'Mr. Seven' because he
occupied chair seven coming out. When I tackled him about that he said
that 'Mr. Seven' was a good enough name. I couldn't make a dent in him.
He's smooth as silk and as hard as steel."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know exactly. I'll try to keep tab on him at the Ransom House
where he is staying but with this flying circus coming to town I won't
have much extra time. I'm going to dig into the files and see what I
can find there. I'm positive I've seen his picture in the last year."
"I'll trail along over to the hotel with you if you'd like. Maybe I
could identify him. I've got one of those card index memories."
"I thought maybe you'd help me out, Dan. We'll have a try at it after
supper. I'll meet you at the Ransom House."
Tim and Ralph had dinner together down town and Tim told of his meeting
the mysterious "Mr. Seven."
"Sounds like a story to me," chuckled Ralph, "and I'll be way wrong if
you don't dig it out. Guess I'll invite myself in on the party tonight
and trail over to the Ransom House with you."
"Glad to have you. Maybe you'll be able to identify my mysterious
stranger."
They discussed plans for the flying circus and after leaving the
restaurant proceeded to the city's leading hotel. Dan Watkins was
waiting for them in the lobby.
"I'll see what name he registered under," said Dan. Inquiry at the desk
revealed that the object of Dan's curiosity had registered as Mr. G.
Seven of Chicago.
"He's in the dining room," said Tim when he rejoined his companions.
"We might as well sit down here. He'll have to pass almost directly in
front of us, which will give Dan a good chance to see him."
"If Dan can't identify him, I'll be glad to help you go through the
files," offered Ralph.
"Thanks. With all of the details necessary in arranging for the flying
circus I'll be glad to have a little extra help. Look sharp now. Here
comes our man."
"Mr. Seven" was dressed in the same well-tailored suit he had worn when
he stepped out of the _Day Express_ and into the life of the flying
reporter. He walked slowly from the dining room toward the elevators in
full view of the sharp eyes of the newspapermen. They watched the
elevator doors close and turned to pool the results.
Dan Watkins shook his head.
"I'm afraid I'm of no help. There's something definitely familiar about
the face but I can't place the name. Maybe it will come to me later."
Tim swung around to Ralph. "What about you?"
"I'm just another disappointment and in the same fix as Dan. 'Mr.
Seven's' face is familiar but that's as far as it goes. His name is
among the missing."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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