with friendly questions until the detective wondered if his companion
were a fool, or someone "on the inside." He wished that Mark would
stop his chattering long enough to let him do the questioning. But
Mark went right on.

"How's the book trade? Bad, I'll wager, so far from town. Why aren't
you working?"

Saunders had to think quickly.

"Oh, I took an afternoon off; business has off days, you know."

"Of course. Any success this morning?"

"One order. Took me a month to get it--from the Padre."

"Ah!"

Mark gave the word the English sound, which convinced the detective
that the speaker really was a fool who had stumbled into an affair he
knew nothing about. But Mark kept up his questioning.

"Did you get to talk much with the Padre? You know, he interests me.
By the way, why do you call him by that Spanish name?"

"Oh, I got into the habit in the Philippines; that's what they call a
priest there. I was a soldier, you know. Did you ever meet him?"

"No; but I'd like to."