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"
"There's no fire-escape and it's too far up for anything to come in
from the street." Average examined the walls with attention and
returned to the big keyhole, through which he peeped.
"Do you ever chew gum?" he asked suddenly.
The Chemist stared at him. "It isn't a habit of mine to," he said.
"But you wouldn't have any objection to my sending for some, in
satisfaction of a sudden irresistible craving?"
"Any particular brand? I'll phone the corner drug store."
"Any sort will suit, thank you."
When the gum arrived, Average Jones, after politely offering some to
his host, chewed up a single stick thoroughly. This he rolled out
to an extremely tenuous consistency and spread it deftly across the
unused keyhole, which it completely though thinly, veiled.
"Now, what's that for?" inquired the chemist, eying the improvised
closure with some contempt.
"Don't know, exactly, yet," replied the deviser, cheerfully. "But
when queer and fatal things happen in a room and there's only one
opening, it's just as well to keep your eye on that, no matter how
small it is.


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