Tess considered the little man a minute.
"If you saw him look up," she argued, "maybe he saw you looking down. Oh, I hope he didn't, but I'm afraid he did," and she sighed.
* * * * *
Sandy Letts had recognized the dwarf. The shock of the discovery sobered him. He couldn't bother with Tess and her brat any longer. He had business in Ithaca! Waldstricker's five thousand dollars, so long sought and so eagerly desired, summoned him. All the way to town, he built castles in Spain with the money. Through every dream, like a thread of hate, ran the purpose to get Tess, and when he had the girl, to torture her through her child.
When he arrived at Waldstricker's office, he found the elder absent. An evil leer on his face, he swaggered up and down the street, his hands thrust deep into his pockets.
He had made the great discovery of his life. He had lined his pockets with gold, and more than that, he had made a lifelong friend of one of the powerful men in Ithaca.
He saw Waldstricker when he turned the corner from State and made his way down Tioga. The squatter turned into the large building, slunk in an alcove, and waited. He heard the heavy tread of the elder on the stairs, heard him pass and go higher up. A few minutes later, he followed.
When he opened the door, Waldstricker greeted him.
"Back again?"
"Yep," chuckled Letts.
"With news, I hope," stated the other.
"Sure," replied Sandy.
"Then tell me," answered Waldstricker, peremptorily. "I'm busy today."
"Did ye ever hear anything of Bishop?" asked the squatter.
"No, I never did."
"Want to?"
"Yes."
"Air that reward up, yet?"
"Certainly. But why all this talk? If you know anything speak out!"
Sandy walked very near the rich man, lowered his voice, and said, "I found 'im, mister."
Ebenezer's nose was offended by the rank odor of liquor Sandy exuded.
"You're not telling me the truth," he asserted. "You've been drinking. You're drunk now."
"Yep, I air drunk some, but I air tellin' ye what's so," insisted Letts. "Andy Bishop air the man ye saw t'other day."
"In my brother-in-law's house!" gasped Waldstricker, beginning to comprehend all that Sandy's discovery meant.
"Yep, that air it," replied Sandy.
"My God, oh, I thank thee!" ejaculated the elder, falling into his chair.