PERK DEMANDS MORE WATER
It was queer what chanced to be passing through the mind of Jack Ralston
while they were thus creeping toward the little well in the rear of the
lonesome shack on the bank of Okeechobee. He had been reading a novel
that was supposed to cover the famous and successful attempt on the part
of General Fred Funston to penetrate the mighty wilderness in the north
of Luzon, the main island of the Philippine group and effect the capture
of the native rebel chieftain, Aguinaldo who, with some of his
associates, had taken refuge in a lonely cabin at a most inaccessible
point.
So vividly had the author described the manner in which the soldier and
his companions crept up when making ready to seize their prey, that it
was still haunting the mind of the airman and somehow the conditions
just then confronting himself and Perk seemed to be very similar. He
only hoped they would prove to be just as successful in their mission as
Funston was when he carried Aguinaldo back to Manila, and thus broke the
backbone of the native uprising against the authority of Uncle Sam.
Perk was already reaching out toward the bucket he discovered perched on
the rocky border of the well. Jack could hear him give a chuckle of
satisfaction on rinding it half full of water and felt himself a bit
tickled to see the way in which his chum proceeded to greedily fill up
with the precious liquid.
Little Perk cared if the water chanced to be stale--he had no complaint
coming on that score as long as his parched throat and tongue came in
for a good soaking and the choking sensation was immediately relieved.
Perk must have suddenly remembered his lapse of manners, for in the
midst of his drinking spree he stopped short and stepped back as though
to invite his comrade to take his turn.
This Jack showed no hesitation in doing, drinking long and with
considerable ardor though he knew when to stop, which was what Perk did
not for no sooner had the other released his hold on the bucket than
Perk took another turn.
In the end Jack was compelled to almost drag the other away from the
well possibly for fear he burst or else some one come out of the shack
and discover them prowling there, unwelcome intruders on Oswald Kearns'
privacy and a positive threat to his peace of mind.
It was hardly a time and place for doing any talking, no matter how
subdued their voices. Jack kept hold of the other's arm and thus started
to steer him in the direction of the lighted window.
Perk must have guessed what his pal had in mind for he made no
resistance whatever, just allowed himself to be steered as his comrade
wished. Stooping down they crawled past, and then closer until they
could begin to glimpse the interior of the room where the light was
dispelling the darkness.
The first thing that struck Jack was the fact that the place had been
fixed up with an eye to comfort--it looked almost luxurious with its
easy chairs and imported rugs that must have cost a considerable sum.
Evidently Oswald Kearns had been too long accustomed to comfort to deny
himself such luxuries even when seeking seclusion in this out-of-the-way
retreat.
Then Jack found himself looking upon the man who had for years been one
of the greatest mysteries the Treasury Department at Washington had ever
endeavored to trap, He was sitting in a big leather-covered easy-chair,
smoking a cigar and busily engaged with a sheaf of important looking
papers. From time to time he would refer to a volume that had the
appearance of a ledger or account book and to which he seemed to attach
great importance.
How the sight sent a succession of thrills through the whole being of
the Secret Service sleuth--here he found himself within arms length of
the master crook who had laughed to scorn all previous efforts of the
Government to take him with the goods on.
Vainly had every possible attempt been made to catch him off his guard;
he had proved himself to be too crafty for the best revenue officers put
upon his track. And when failure after failure became the rule, the Big
Boss had decided to change the policy they had hitherto followed and put
an air pilot on the job as being able to go swiftly and easily where
others had been so cleverly balked.
Then Jack began to wonder where the other two men might be, for thus far
he had failed to discover either in the room of the lighted window.
Could it be possible both of them had sailed away aboard that
Lockheed-Vega ship, bent on some important mission which the Master had
entrusted to their care?
He could not bring himself to believe this possible--that he against
whom so many hostile hands were raised would be willing to stay all by
himself in such a lonesome place unless it seemed unavoidable. One or
both of those aids must be somewhere around.
Just the same he could see no other room connected with the stone
building--it was always possible, however, that there might be another
shack--perhaps a crude palmetto-leaf hut, such as the poor whites in the
backwoods lived in, somewhere not far away that served them for a
shelter when it rained or a bustling Norther came howling down from the
regions of snow and ice and zero temperatures.
Jack had about reached this conclusion when he discovered a figure,
covered with a fancy Navajo blanket, on a cot in a corner of the
place--yes, there was a head on a sofa pillow such as would be more in
place over at the beautiful Miami estate than here in such a desolate
region.
Somehow he quickly assumed this must be the shorter party--which would
go to prove the other fellow might have accompanied the pilot of the
departed airship.
When he had decided this to his entire satisfaction, Jack was able to
figure on certain matters. It undoubtedly meant that he and Perk would
have just two pitted against them in case things came to a showdown,
making it an even fight with victory perching on the side that was
quickest at the draw.
He seemed to remember every warning he had received in connection with
not under-rating this remarkable man, so greedy for excitement that
wealthy though he was, he would seek all manner of thrilling adventures
just to have the laugh on the Government, especially the Secret Service
men toward whom he was said to entertain a feeling of almost wolfish
hatred.
So too, did Jack take note of every object spread before his searching
gaze in the shack where Oswald Kearns seemed to be busying himself in
the pleasing occupation of making up his secret accounts.
That book, as well as the sheaf of papers rather fascinated the watcher
outside the window--somehow Jack conceived the idea that there before
him was spread all the incriminating evidence needful to bring the
erratic career of this amazing man to an abrupt end--to put a stop to
the mammoth illegal operations he had so long conducted in secret and by
which he had impudently flaunted all the powers in Washington, just as
though he had sent them a message worded, "Well, what are you going to
do about it? Break up this fine game if you can."
If only they were able to get him fast in the net before he could make
any attempt to destroy that book and those papers--Jack felt convinced a
generous Fortune had not allowed him to see such a prize only to snatch
it out of his reach through fire or some similar means of destruction.
But here was Perk pulling at his sleeve as though he had a communication
of the utmost importance to pass along. Accordingly, Jack, who himself
was ready to effect a change of base so that speedy action might be
decided on, moved back from the window.
"What is it, Perk?" he whispered, at which the other began to make
suggestive gestures toward his throat, and nod his head violently.
"I c'n feel it comin' on again, partner--the ticklin' feelin' you know,
an' I'm afraid I'll start acoughin' to beat the band--must have more
drink."
It seemed nothing could be done until Perk's sensitive throat had been
properly attended to, so once more they crept and trailed along until
the vicinity of the well had been reached. Here Perk started to swill,
as though his capacity for holding water had no limit. It was just at
this particular moment, when both of them were hanging over the well
curb that a shaft of light suddenly enveloped them as the back door of
the shack opened and the figure of the short man came in sight with a
new tin or aluminum bucket in his hand as though his purpose was to get
a supply of fresh water.