THE NET IS DRAWN TIGHTER
That obvious lie on Rollins's part gave Jack the final assurance that
the man was in the plot against them. Burning with indignation, he
wanted to expose Rollins but with an effort of self-control he choked
back the hot words and also managed to keep his anger from showing in
his face.
But it was an effort. Fortunately the others came to his rescue. Frank
began to shiver in his pajamas and called attention to the fact that
the night air was chill.
"Yes," said Jack, glad of the change in subject, "no matter how warm
the days out here, the nights are always cool. Let's go inside."
All trooped into the living room, which was dining room, too. In the
big fireplace they found a wood fire laid by the thoughtful Gabby
Pete, ready to be touched off in the morning. The talkative camp cook
slept in the bunkhouse some distance away, in the opposite direction
from the radio plant. While the others dragged blankets from their
beds and returned to the living room, wrapped up in them like
Indians, Jack touched a match to the wood and the fire soon was
blazing merrily.
Rollins would have excused himself on the plea of fatigue after a long
day's ride, but Mr. Temple halted him.
"So long as we are here altogether," he said, "it won't hurt matters,
and may help them, to have a little talk."
From his chair in front of the fire, Mr. Temple looked up inquiringly
at Rollins, who stood to one side of the fireplace, his face in the
shadows. The latter did not speak. Jack thought quickly. Was it wise
for Mr. Temple, unaware of Rollins's duplicity, to discuss matters
with him? He decided not. He was bending down to throw more wood on
the fire and without rising he interposed an objection.
"Mr. Rollins must be pretty tired," he said, glad his face was averted
because he feared the scorn in his eyes would betray him. "And we've
all had a hard day. Suppose we let the discussion go until tomorrow."
Rollins spoke precipitately, and Jack believed there was a little note
of relief in his voice.
"Yes," said he, "that would be better. I am pretty tired, as Jack
says. Well, I'll turn in. Good night. I'll see you at breakfast and
after that we can have our talk."
Shaking hands with Mr. Temple and throwing curt nods to Bob and
Frank, Rollins left the room. A moment later Jack arose and followed
swiftly but silently to the door on the gallery. Peering around the
doorpost cautiously, he assured himself Rollins had entered his own
room, then returned.
The others looked at him in surprise, unable to understand the meaning
of his actions. Jack soon enlightened them.
Crouched before the fire and with his eyes on the door for signs of
interruption, while the others pulled their chairs close about him,
Jack in a low voice outlined his experiences of the night.
When he spoke of Rollins's using the radio, Frank uttered an
exclamation.
"That's how the enemy learned just what time we would arrive," he
declared.
Jack shook his head.
"No," said he. "All Rollins had to do to spread that information was
to tell Remedios. The latter could notify the men who laid for us."
"Well, then, whom was he telephoning to?"
Jack again arose and moved to the door and peered out. No signs of
life. He returned and resuming his position said in a low voice:
"That's what I've been asking myself. I've thought it over and I
believe I've found the answer. Either he was radioing to the Calomares
ranch in Old Mexico where father probably is held a prisoner, or else
he was sending a message to the fellows who stole our airplane."
Bob, the belligerent growled in his throat.
"The big stiff," he muttered. "I'll go get him now and we'll choke it
out of him."
He half rose from his chair, but his father pushed him back.
"Don't blame you, Bob," said Jack, grinning. "It's what I wanted to do
myself. But I believe there is more to be gained by watching
Rollins--at least until we have more to go on."
"Probably," said Frank, "if we put it up to him now, he'd be able to
lie out of it."
"But he couldn't lie out of being seen with Remedios," said Bob. "Or
of using the radio."
"Frank is right, though," declared Jack. "Rollins would frame some
alibi, and all we'd succeed in doing would be to put him on his
guard."
Mr. Temple had been thinking deeply. Now he interrupted.
"Jack is probably correct in his surmise as to who Rollins was calling
by radio," he said. "Probably this Calomares ranch is headquarters for
the Mexican rebels who are making trouble for us. If it was the ranch
that Rollins called, he may have been making his report on today's
proceedings. But if he was calling the airplane, that is a more
serious matter. It may mean trouble for us tonight, perhaps another
attack."
"Great guns," grumbled Bob, "don't these birds ever sleep? Well,
believe me, if the Heinie that stole my airplane comes around where I
can get my hands on him, I'll fix him."
"You wouldn't hurt him, Bob, would you?" said Jack.
"Huh." That was all Bob replied. It was enough.
"I wouldn't do a thing to him, either," said Frank. "Except I'd turn
his Kaiser mustaches down so hard they'd never point up again."
Bob and Frank, joint owners of the airplane, grinned at each other.
"Well, fellows," said Jack, "We have got to sleep. So I propose that
we stand guard turn about tonight. It's pretty late now, midnight or
thereabouts, so that if we stand two hour watches, the three of us,
we'll pull through nicely without spoiling Mr. Temple's slumber."
The older man protested he was as able to stand a watch as any of
them, but the boys wouldn't have it so. Finally it was agreed that
Jack should take the first watch of two hours, Bob would succeed him
and Frank would have the last watch. The man keeping watch would sit
inside his bedroom door opening on to the gallery, with Jack's
revolver. As the bedrooms adjoined, while that of Rollins was the
last in the house, it would be easy enough to guard both.
The night passed, however, without incident.
It had been agreed beforehand that after the expiration of Frank's
watch at 6 o'clock there would be no necessity for keeping further
watch. Gabby Pete would be up and busy at his early morning tasks, and
the oil drillers housed in the bunkhouse also would be stirring about.
Therefore, after barring the door, a precaution Bob also had taken in
the room shared with his father, he turned in without awaking Jack.
Worn out by their trip of the day before with its attack and the
excitement of the night, all slept soundly, and Gabby Pete did not get
them up. It was almost 10 o'clock when Jack awoke. He called the
others, and soon all were dressed and ready for what the day would
bring forth.
Jack was the first dressed. He found Gabby Pete in the kitchen,
peeling potatoes, and asked if they could have breakfast.
"Sure thing," said Gabby Pete. "Have it fur you right away. Nice fresh
aigs an' ham an' coffee. How's that?"
"Fine. Have you seen Mr. Rollins this morning?"
"Yeah. Give him breakfast early. He lef word he hadda go over to
Number Two well where they're still drillin' an' hain't struck oil
yet, but said as how he'd be back later today. He tuk them two
drillers from the bunkhouse with him."
"Did you know Remedios sneaked up last night and took his flivver
again, right from under our noses?" Jack inquired.
"No, that so?" Gabby Pete dropped his paring knife and potatoes in
surprise.
"Well, he did," said Jack, starting to leave.
Gabby Pete jumped up, almost upsetting his pan in his haste, and
called to Jack to wait. Wiping his wet hands on a big blue apron that
looked incongruous on the old cowman, he pulled open a drawer in a
kitchen table and took out a flat blue envelope which he handed to
Jack.
"Almost forgot this," he said. "Your tellin' me about that there
scoundrel of a Greaser put everything else out o' my mind. Must be
gittin old an' forgetful. One o' these days I'll forgit my head."
He would have rambled on garrulously, but Jack interrupted. He turned
the envelope over curiously. It bore no address or writing of any
kind, and was sealed.
"What's this for, Pete?" Jack inquired.
"Oh, that's somethin' Mr. Rollins musta dropped out o' his pocket at
breakfast. Found it on the floor beside his chair after he was gone.
Will you give it to him?"
"All right."
Jack returned to join his companions.
"Have we any right to open this?" he said, after explaining how he had
obtained the envelope. "I for one believe that we should. It may
contain valuable information to us."
"You're right, Jack," said Mr. Temple. "I'm a partner in this oil
enterprise, and if one of our trusted employees is a scoundrel we are
entitled to know it. Give me the envelope. I'll take the
responsibility."
While the others looked on, Mr. Temple ran a knife along the edge and
slit the envelope open. Inside was a mass of documents and a letter.
Mr. Temple unfolded them, gave one look, then with an exclamation
jumped to his feet.
"Great Scott, boys," he cried. "This is important. Luck is certainly
with us."